Contents

This page contains only the text of the articles and columns in this issue. To see the photos and captions including the Snapshots of Our Community section,
view the on-line version above or download the PDFs whose links follow this table of contents.

The District Accountability Advisory Committee (DAAC) of the
Lewis-Palmer School District received the results of a review by the application
subcommittee of the Monument Academy Expansion application at its Nov. 14
meeting.

The subcommittee made an in-depth review of the application
and compared its results with those of the Charter School Institute (CSI)
review. CSI is the state chartering body. Monument Academy is chartered
exclusively by District 38, but a comparison of findings seemed significant.

The findings of the two bodies were essentially in agreement
and complimented Monument Academy (MA) for submitting a solid application
including an innovative leadership program concept. The school is
well-established with over 20 years of history and its slightly different high
school approach could offer an alternative to district families. With a future
population of 500, the school could alleviate pressure on the other high schools
as the district grows.

The subcommittee recommended that the Board of Education
approve the application with the provision that a specific list of items be
addressed. These include:

• The application states there will be no summer school.
Clarify how credit recover will occur.

• Clarify how students with severe special needs will be
served.

• Ensure that students will not "bounce" between
traditional and charter schools, as this could complicate credits toward
graduation.

• Ensure that the budget is adequate to complete
construction and staffing of school

• Ensure that the contract includes clear documentation
of joint agreements regarding compliance with state and federal
requirements.

During the discussion that followed, Administration Liaison
Cheryl Wangeman said that the academy could offer its own bond to raise funds
for the construction of the school or could combine with the district to do so.
She said that the academy has a 3 percent reserve at this time. In the past they
have often put money aside from the per pupil funding from the state to pay for
construction or improvements on the present site.

Board Liaison John Magerko reminded that public comments will
continue to be accepted up to 90 days after the application is accepted and
during the negotiation period.

MA faculty members and subcommittee member Howard Bonser
commented that the site for the school must be determined before further
planning would be done. He assured DAAC that MA would take as long as necessary
to complete the job right.

The committee voted to approve the recommendation of the
subcommittee.

Long Term Facilities Planning update and preschool forum

DAAC Co-chair Anne-Marie Hasstedt, a member of the Long Term
Facilities Planning Committee (LTFP), reported on the process underway
throughout this year, including several community meetings, nine committee
meetings, surveys, and other events. The committee is examining demographic
information and considering construction priorities through 2024.

The committee recommends the construction of two new
elementary schools along the I-25 corridor. With this in mind, they have
examined the available properties, including space on the property where Bear
Creek Elementary stands, the property where Grace Best Education Center stands,
and district owned property in the Forest Lakes subdivision, and at the
intersection of Highways 83 and 105.

The committee currently sees the construction of an
elementary school at the Bear Creek site and conversion of Bear Creek Elementary
back into a middle school as the most feasible.

However, due to the large population of Bear Creek
Elementary, were it to be converted, two elementary schools would be needed.

Regarding the use of Grace Best as an elementary, a number of
problems arise, including proximity to an assisted living facility, traffic
congestion, proximity of the bus barn, and expensive deferred maintenance
issues.

Another concern of the committee is crime prevention with
environmental design. The use of portables is discounted due to the inability to
provide adequate security.

Preschool forum

A brief discussion followed on preschools in the district and
whether it is preferable to follow the current policy of decentralization or to
centralize all in one building.

Francis commented that an advantage of decentralization is
the ability of the young child to feel they are a part of a school from an early
age.

Day also said that this was an advantage, although her
preschool also serves children who will later attend Prairie Winds Elementary.
The Lewis-Palmer Elementary site also offers extensive special education
services.

The Palmer Lake preschool is located near the district
administration building.

The advantages of centralizing preschool services also are
many. The Lewis-Palmer preschool is top heavy with special needs students, while
the Palmer Lake preschool is top heavy with Colorado Preschool Program students
who are viewed as high risk whether due to single parent families, foster
families, or economic hardship.

Combining these two groups with the general population would
offer the advantage of allowing students access to various specialized services
such as speech therapists and making it easier to evaluate students’ needs for
possible special education services.

Also, a centralized facility would allow the preschool
teachers to share best practices and ideas. Moving the preschools would also
allow for more classroom space in their present locations.

Francis commented that Kilmer presently has a waitlist for
its preschool, a problem that could be solved by centralization.

When asked about the difference between private and public
preschools, district Preschool Coordinator Julie Jadomski said that there are
few local options for a private preschool, these being a Montessori School and
Monument Academy. The former Little Sprouts preschool has closed.

The district preschools provide curriculum that dovetails
with kindergarten curriculum, said Jadomski. Also, private preschools are not
mandated to provide special education services, while public preschools are
required to do so and any tuition is provided by the state.

Regarding the location of a centralized preschool, it may be
part of one of the new elementary schools.

The committee made no formal recommendation.

Other matters

Magerko reported that there will be an estimated 2 percent
increase in funding for next year.

He congratulated Chris Taylor and Tiffiney Upchurch for their
election to the Board of Education and thanked Sherri Hawkins for her service on
the board.

Magerko urged members of the committee to continue to
interact with others in the community, realizing that few answers are black and
white, and always going to the source of information rather than believing
everything they read on the internet. He urged all to be skeptical but not
cynical in their approach.

**********

The Lewis-Palmer D-38 District Accountability Advisory
Committee meets five times per year. Locations vary. The next meeting will be at
7 p.m. on Jan. 16 at Lewis-Palmer Middle School, 1776 Woodmoor Drive. Monument.

Lewis-Palmer D-38 Board of Education,
Nov. 16:

Board OKs Monument Academy Expansion application—with conditions

By Harriet Halbig

The Lewis-Palmer D-38 Board of Education conditionally
approved the Monument Academy (MA) Expansion application, heard updates on the
Long Term Facilities Planning process, and discussed some policy changes at its
Nov. 16 meeting.

MA Executive Director Don Griffin and Chief Executive Officer
and Principal Elizabeth Davis attended the meeting to report on activities in
the 49 days since the application was submitted. MA proposes to build a high
school to accompany its elementary school.

Griffin reported that the District Accountability Advisory
Committee (DAAC), the state chartering authority (CSI), and district
administrators have reviewed it.

Davis said that the application is in a constant state of
improvement as a result of input from other sources.

Board Treasurer John Magerko said that he had attended the
recent meeting of the DAAC and took seriously the committee’s suggestions (for
further information, see the DAAC article on page 1 of this issue).

There were no questions from the board.

In public comments, Jackie Burhans noted that the academy was
partnering with three colleges for concurrent enrollment opportunities, one of
which is Grand Canyon University, a religious institution.

Davis responded that negotiations with Grand Canyon
University are still in progress. The university was interested in collaboration
due to the academy’s stress on leadership.

District Superintendent Karen Brofft commented that there are
no legal limitations against such a collaboration.

The board approved the following resolution: "To
conditionally approve the expansion of Monument Academy Charter School for the
addition of grades 9 through 12, conditionally granted for a term commensurate
with the existing charter (through June 30, 2026) beginning in the fall of 2019,
subject to and pending successful negotiation of the terms and conditions –
including those required by law – as noted in detail in the resolution presented
and attached to the minutes of this meeting."

The minutes may be found on the district website
lewispalmer.org under Board of Education.

Long Term Facilities Planning update

Doug Abernethy of RTA Architects reported on recent
developments in the planning process. He said that the district decided many
years ago to keep the elementary schools small, but now such a policy is too
expensive to retain.

Previous discussions had recommended the construction of an
elementary school on the site of Bear Creek Elementary and the reconversion of
the present elementary school to a middle school (see article about public
deliberation on page 8 of this issue).

Asked whether this new elementary school would be one or two
stories, Abernethy responded that it would have to be two to accommodate the
number of students. This is partially due to space constraints once playgrounds
and parking are considered.

Board Secretary Mark Pfoff commented that he is disappointed
that the board will apparently be offered only one recommendation from the
committee. He would prefer to see all evidence and scenarios considered.

Board Vice President Matthew Clawson also said he would like
to see at least two or three alternatives.

Brofft assured them that all options will be in the
committee’s final report.

Clawson suggested that the schedule for approval of the
report should be pushed back in order to allow the two new board members to
acclimatize themselves.

Brofft suggested a Jan. 9 work session to discuss the
options.

Clawson asked whether a year-round school schedule would help
alleviate some of the problems of capacity.

Abernethy responded that running the schools year round would
further exacerbate the problems of deferred maintenance.

Brofft commented that there would also be a salary cost to
running year round, resulting in a new round of contracts.

Financial audit report

John-Paul LeChevallier, director of independent auditing at
CliftonLarsonAllen, reported that the district’s records were clean and thanked
the staff for the prompt provision of all requested materials.

The board voted to approve the audit and directed Assistant
Superintendent Cheryl Wangeman to provide the final report to state authorities.

Safety and Security update

Chief of Safety and Security Dennis Coates reported on
developments in the district safety and security protocols.

He said that all employees have been trained on the
provisions of the Claire Davis Act, requiring that school districts take all
reasonable care to prevent acts of violence in schools.

He also explained Raptor, a program in the elementary schools
requiring proper identification of adults entering the building. If it is
determined that an adult should not be there, the school resource officer is
notified.

There is now a second school resource officer on staff,
allowing for improved traffic control and a more visible presence, Coates said.

All radios have been reprogrammed, and there is an agreement
on the use of particular channels and language so that response to an emergency
is consistent.

Other recent changes include the moving of the Lewis-Palmer
High School bus loop from the south to the north side of the school and the
closing of one of the Palmer Ridge High School entrances in the morning. Now
there is a safely monitor at each entrance.

Every building now has a notebook of emergency procedures.
The grounds and maintenance staff has been trained in emergency response, as
have the secretaries at each location. Professional development continues
through the use of webinars and contacts with law enforcement.

There will be an increased number of drills in response to
various potential situations.

Future plans include a reunification drill to emulate a
situation where a school is evacuated, and all students are moved to another
location. Camera systems in both high schools will be improved. Compliance with
the National Incident Management System (part of the Federal Emergency
Management Administration) is anticipated in January.

Director Sarah Sampayo said that policy JICDD should require
notification of parents of the perpetrator and victim of any act of violence.
Currently it is only required that the principal and school resource officer be
notified. Following discussion, it was agreed that the parents should be
notified within a reasonable period of time.

The board also heard the first reading of policy JLCD
regarding the administration of medication. A change was added to require that
permission forms be renewed and submitted each year.

The board declined to approve the change pending changes in
board personnel.

Community recognitions

Pastor Scott Campbell of the Ascent Church was recognized for
the fundraising run in September that raised $15,000 for suicide prevention.
Lewis-Palmer High School, Palmer Ridge High School, and Discovery Canyon were
each rewarded $5,000.

Becky Yoder was recognized for 10 years of service on the
audit committee.

Public comments

Music teacher Tom Chapman thanked Magerko and board President
Sherri Hawkings for their service and expressed anxiety about the results of the
recent election, being concerned that priorities might change.

Lewis-Palmer Middle School student Makenzie Garcia spoke of
Operation PJ, a program she founded to provide new pajamas to children in need.
The collection period this year is throughout November, and she hopes to provide
pajamas to children in Texas who survived the hurricane and children in
California who survived fires.

Bridget O’Connor and Phyllis Robinette thanked Magerko and
Hawkins for their service.

Burhans thanked the district for sponsoring public
deliberation sessions on district issues.

The board went into executive session to discuss leased or
sale of real property, negotiations regarding the geothermal system at Palmer
Ridge High School, and the evaluation of the superintendent.

No further business was conducted following the executive
session.

Above: First-graders from Kilmer Elementary signed the
lyrics to God Bless America at the November board meeting. Photo by
Harriet Halbig.

Above: On November 16th, ahead of the regular Board of
Education Meeting the Lewis-Palmer School District hosted a farewell reception
for outgoing board members Dr. John Magerko and Mrs. Sherri Hawkins seen here
second from left and 3rd from the right respectively. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

**********

The Board of Education of the Lewis-Palmer D-38 schools meets
at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month in the district’s Learning Center,
146 Jefferson St., Monument. The next meeting will be on Dec. 21.

Lewis-Palmer D38 Public Deliberation
Outreach, Nov. 6:

Community members, facilitators discuss sixth-grade and
options
for Grace Best

By Harriet Halbig

The Lewis-Palmer school district sponsored a Nov. 6 community
outreach forum in the form of a public deliberation exercise on the use of Grace
Best Education Center and the pros and cons of moving sixth-grade students from
the elementary schools to the middle school.

This forum is part of the Long Term Facilities Planning
process that began early this year and has included surveys and several
committee meetings including community members, district staff and
administration, and RTA Architects, the consultants who have sought and
organized the information into several scenarios.

Attending the Nov. 6 forum were three school principals, two
candidates for the Board of Education, a student, and about 40 members of the
public, divided into roundtables of about eight persons each. Each table was
served by a facilitator who encouraged those participating to listen to one
another with an open mind. An attempt was made to have a diverse variety of
viewpoints represented at each table.

Carrie Bennett of Learning Through Difference LLC, was the
facilitator for the event. She explained the ground rules for the deliberation.

Participants were provided with a wealth of background
material on both questions.

As part of her explanation, Bennett said that there is a
category of problems that has no set solutions but instead involves trade-offs,
is values-based, and is open to different interpretations. An example of such a
problem would be prioritizing water use among urban users, farmers, and
recreation. The issues under discussion that evening were of a similar nature.

The ground rules simply required individuals to listen to one
another, balance participation so that no one viewpoint or individual dominates
the conversation, and respect one another’s differences.

The sixth-grade discussion took up more than half the time
spent. Some of the considerations were:

• Safety of remaining in the elementary school vs. new
opportunities and expanded course choices in middle school

• Travel time and proximity of the neighborhood
elementary vs. more distance to the middle school

• Maturity level of sixth-graders and whether they
required protection from influence of older students

After each table reported some of its discussion, an informal
show of hands determined that the majority would favor returning the sixth grade
to the middle school.

District Superintendent Karen Brofft, in response to a
question, said that such drastic changes could not take place until the board
decides on the use of all facilities and budget priorities.

The discussion regarding the use of the Grace Best Education
Center was more complex and indecisive.

The building itself was constructed in three sections: the
single-story front part that was constructed in the 1957, the two-story section
added in 1988, and the gym. The building is currently being used for the
Homeschool Enrichment Academy, the Transitions program, storage in the oldest
section, and space for such enrichment programs as the robotics team. The gym is
frequently rented for community use.

Although currently contained following abatement in 2008,
asbestos remains in the older part of the building, making it impractical for
use as an elementary school without major improvements.

Four options were presented:

• Leave the facility as is

• Tear down the entire building

• Tear down the oldest part

• Remodel the building into an elementary school

Some concerns included:

• Serving niche programs vs. the needs of the district as
a whole

• Money spent on renovation now vs. money spent on new
construction in the future

• Building a world-class facility vs. saving money and
having a good enough facility

• Advancing the district’s vision vs. balancing the
budget

Architect Doug Abernethy of RTA Architects estimated the cost
of the various options, reminding those attending that asbestos is in the
mechanical systems and in the soil around the building.

Other concerns about Grace Best as an elementary include the
proximity of an assisted living facility and traffic patterns in the area with a
narrow street to the west and difficulty of access for buses.

The Grace Best campus also includes the district’s bus barn,
which may need to expand with growing population, and diesel storage tanks.

Due to the complexity of the problem, the group declined to
state preferences for the use of Grace Best.

Caption: Facilitator Carrie Bennett explains the results
of public deliberation regarding sixth-grade students in the elementary vs. the
middle school. Photo by Harriet Halbig.

Board Treasurer Patrick Hall reported that the full-time
equivalent (FTE) pupil count had been adjusted down from 919 to 913 for the
purposes of budgeting, resulting in a small revenue drop. He noted that
October’s budget shows a small loss of $4,000 because the $10,000 paid to all
coaches is paid twice a year but budgeted monthly. Hall’s report noted a yearly
principal payment of $380,000 on Oct. 1 with an outstanding bond balance of
$13.3 million. Hall noted that the debt service to FTE ratio of $1,016 for 912
students compares to D38’s ratio of $1,228 for 5,375.5 FTE.

Board President Scott Saunders brought up the discussion and
approval of the revision of the 2017-18 revised budget that included updated
revenue based on actual numbers and decreased expenditures. The board
unanimously approved the revision with no discussion. The 2017-18 revised budget
along with prior budgets are available at http://bit.ly/ma-budget.

Curriculum planning

Director Don Griffin provided the principal’s report in
Davis’ absence. He reported that Davis is working with the curriculum committee
on elementary and middle school scope and sequence. They are also starting to
work on the high school curriculum. Davis has been sending people to different
educational opportunities so that MA has some in-house expertise as they go into
a two-year development once they receive approval for the high school.

Teacher representative board policy

The Governance Committee recommended three small revisions to
Teacher Representative to the Board policy 1515. Changes include modifying the
term from one year to two years, revising the process to replace a teacher
representative by following the same process as School Board bylaws, and
softening the requirements for attendance because some meetings don’t affect
teachers. The board unanimously approved the proposed changes and noted that
current teacher representatives are grandfathered in or out depending on their
preference. Board policy 1515 can be seen at
http://bit.ly/ma-policy1515.

Other highlights

• Griffin reported that he met the new executive director
of the Colorado Military Academy (CMA) charter school next to Peterson Air
Force Base. CMA has a lot of members of families from Peterson and Fort
Carson. He noted that their 130,000-square-foot building was given to them
by the Department of Defense. They don’t yet have a playground, auditorium,
or gynasium but the building is amazing.

• He noted that the district has to wait for the election
to be certified, which was expected to occur between Nov. 22 and 24. D38
then has 10 days to install the new board and 15 additional days to set up
the organization, but usually the intallation and certification happen at
the same time. He noted that the second high school application public
hearing on Nov. 16 would be seen by same board as the first hearing, which
he said is good for continuity.

**********

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at the
Monument Academy library at 1150 Village Ridge Point. The MA School Board
usually meets at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. There will be no
December meeting, and the January meeting date has been adjusted. Meetings are
adjusted as needed to avoid conflicts. Information on the MA School Board,
including schedule, minutes, committee and finances can be found at
http://www.monumentacademy.net/school-board.

Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection
District, Nov. 15:

Voter approval increases TLMFPD revenue for 2018 and beyond

By Lisa Hatfield

The Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District (TLMFPD),
meeting on Nov. 15, discussed the infusion of about $2.93 million in additional
revenue that will be provided to the fire district by the property tax increase
of "up to 6.9 mills" approved by district voters in November and the many
effects it will have on the proposed 2018 budget. They also heard presentations
about the new administrative office space, IT system upgrades, the maintenance
status of the fleet, and changes to the district’s training program.

Treasurer John Hildebrandt and Director Tom Tharnish were
excused.

Board needs to certify exact mill levy amount in December

Because 61 percent of over 10,000 ballots cast in TLMFPD’s
territory approved the issue 5A property tax mill levy increase (see election
results on page 20), TLMFPD now has the option of adding up to 6.9 mills to the
current 11.5 mills, per $100,000 of assessed value to its budget.

Fire Chief Chris Truty said that due to a higher than
expected property value assessment in 2017, the proposed 2018 budget reflects a
6.6 mill levy increase rather than the 6.9 mills approved in the ballot measure.
This would still reach the same dollar amount the district said it needed before
the election to reach its goals. It would give the district a 0.3 mill cushion
for future budgets without needing to go back to community for a vote if that
"extra" $140,000 were needed when it certifies its mill levy in future budget
years.

Vice President Roger Lance said, "this budget does not get us
much growth, it just sustains us next year," and he thought TLMFPD should
certify the whole 6.9 mills right away in 2018 and put the extra toward a
cushion for new equipment.

Director Terri Hayes disagreed, saying TLMFPD should stick to
the dollar amount it had calculated it needed before the election to meet its
goals and "not go to the max" just because they could. Also, the new budget
already includes a new category that had not been there in the past to set aside
extra money for a future equipment fund. President Jake Shirk and Director Jason
Buckingham also thought they should just use 6.6 mills this year, since that
figure would be enough to generate the revenue to meet the challenges outlined
this year to district voters.

The directors will vote to certify the exact mill levy amount
at the Dec. 6 meeting.

Draft of 2018 proposed budget
will include additional revenue

Truty presented the draft 2018 budget, assuming that the
board certifies an additional 6.6 mills above the current 11.5 mills. If so, the
2018 proposed budget estimates that revenue will increase from $6.15 million in
2017 to $9.08 million, primarily because of the mill levy increase ballot
measure approval. Total expenses are then proposed to increase from $6.19
million in 2017 to $8.87 million in 2018.

As promised by TLMFPD before the election, draft budget
categories with the most noticeable increases included, but were not limited to:

• Wages increase from $3.48 million to $4.6 million

• Buildings capital outlay increases from $35,000 to
$410,000

• Communications expenses increase from $133,450 to
$231,535

• Three new vehicles (one each: fire, medical, and
administrative) for $360,000

For all the details of the proposed budget, see
http://tlmfire.org/budget or attend the Dec. 6 meeting when the directors will
actually vote. No members of the public spoke either for or against the proposed
budget at the public hearing on Nov. 15.

Wage increase will be decided next month

Another decision at the December meeting, besides the mill
levy assessment resolutions, budget appropriations, and budget approval, will be
the exact amount of the 2018 wage increase. Truty said the number in the
proposed budget will increase enough so that in 2018 wages will meet the 2017
Front Range average, "rather than being 25 percent below that. It will be a
huge, huge leap for us, it will keep and attract more people." Comparable
districts listed by the district in the 2017 election materials include Fountain
FD, Frederick/Firestone FD, Brighton FD, Colorado Springs FD, Castle Rock FD,
South Metro FD, and West Metro FD. Also see
www.ocn.me/v16n12.htm#tlmfpd1115.

Chief’s report

Truty publicly thanked some specific people who supported the
ballot measure, including resident Dave Betzler who chaired the advocacy group,
Micah Coyle, Aaron Wood, Mike and Andrea Keough, resident Michael Winton, and
Paul Hanley from George K. Baum. "This was a team effort, not just the chief
officers and also the union. None of this would have happened without
everybody’s participation."

Truty said the move of TLMFPD’s administrative offices was
complete. "We are back in the district, and it’s a step up from what we had
before.… I think it’s a good fit for us." He invited district residents to see
the new offices at 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 103, Monument. Note: According
to the proposed budget, rent for the new space will cost $35,525 a year now,
which is more than twice the cost of the similar-size office space TLMFPD was
leasing on Gleneagle Drive, which was not inside TLMFPD’s territory.

Fire Marshal/Administrative Battalion Chief Jamey Bumgarner
outlined the improvements in technology since TLMFPD had chosen a new IT
contractor. "We wanted to make the system robust to support the organization
moving forward," he said, explaining improvements in internet speeds and
standardization of internet equipment at all three stations and the new offices.
Truty said internet speeds are 25 to 50 times higher than they were, for less
expense than before, thanks to the new IT firm, and this would allow video
conferencing between the fire stations to help with training, for example.

Deputy Chief Randy Trost’s comments included:

• We have never gotten the quality and character of
paramedic and firefighter candidates like this before in a hiring process!
Some were also applying to Colorado Springs FD and other bigger districts
but considering TLMFPD at the same time.

• All three fire engines, 2211, 2212, and 2213, need some
type of service related to age, call volume, or original design. The motors
are just tired. 2212 is in the shop with an oil leak, and it doesn’t look
good. We might need to borrow a rig in the one-year interim between ordering
and taking delivery on a new fire engine.

• A superficial remodel of Station 3 is underway, but in
the next three years, each station will go through a thorough a design and
re-envisioning process with ideas from the firefighters now that the mill
levy has been approved.

• We are doing research on the right kind of new
extrication equipment to buy.

• Staff motivation to serve on research committees is
much better now. The money is there, and we can purchase items next year;
this changes the momentum.

Trost said that one shift had been able to test-drive a fire
engine demo on Nov.13, experiencing driving on different grades with different
horsepower motors and suspensions. Truty said "The word’s out. (Companies) are
dropping by about every week" with demonstration fire trucks.

Training update

Battalion Chief of Training Jonathan Bradley, who joined
TLMFPD in September, presented an overview of his progress in the last few
months. His comments included:

• I spent time with the crews to find out broad
categories of training they needed and how to address delivery of training.

• Office Administrator Jen Martin and I have been
digitizing training records and creating a records management system so that
no one will ever lose a certification due to missing an expiration date.

• We have established a new pattern of training, first
doing company-level training of individual skills and then going out in the
field to put it all together in real-life scenarios.

• We have set up a 2018 training calendar, prioritized,
so that guys can plan around big events such as wildland refresher training.

• We have applied to have a state-recognized Emergency
Medical Service (EMS) training site here so we can do customized continuing
education on our own without relying on the hospital site. The hope is to
create a confederacy of other North Group districts to share instructors and
course content.

• Penrose Hospital won its bid to copy a paramedic
training program from St. Anthony’s in Lakewood. We will be able to send
paramedics trainees there too for six-month turnaround time instead of 1-1/2
years. It is huge for us.

The meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m.

**********

Meetings are usually held the fourth Wednesday of each month.
The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at TLMFPD Station 1, 18650
Highway 105. For information, contact Jennifer Martin at 484-0911. For upcoming
agendas, see http://tlmfire.org/board.

Donald Wescott Fire Protection District,
Nov. 21:

After mill levy win, district looks to finalize budget

By Jennifer Kaylor

The Donald Wescott Fire Protection District (DWFPD) Board of
Directors met on Nov. 21 as it awaited final revenue numbers from the El Paso
County Assessor’s Office to finalize the budget. All board members were present
except Harland Baker, who was excused.

Chief Vinny Burns thanked the community in supporting the
overwhelming victory in raising the levy from 7 to 21.9 mills in the Nov. 7
election (see election results on page 20). He expressed special thanks to those
who worked on committees and pitched in to get the levy passed. Capt. Sean
Pearson echoed Burns’ gratitude on behalf of the firefighters.

2018 budget approval briefly postponed

Burns stated that not much had changed regarding the 2018
budget since the board’s October meeting. He explained that he was waiting for
final numbers from the Assessor’s Office, which should come in seven to 10 days.
Burns noted that revenue was estimated at $2.297 million. Because of the
district’s reduced size, Burns stated that the Special Ownership Tax revenue was
conservatively cut from $250,000 to $75,000. He estimated $1.5 million would be
placed in reserves to prepare for capital improvement projects.

Administrative Assistant Stacey Popovich explained Resolution
2017-005 that, if approved by the board, would change the district’s current
accident and sickness policy and coverage through the Heart, Circulatory and
Cancer Trust that is part of the Special District Association of Colorado pool.
The change would create a $6,000 savings for the district and would bring it
into compliance with legislative changes. The board unanimously approved the
resolution.

Resident Dennis Feltz asked if the insurance change
benefitted volunteers retroactively. Popovich replied that the insurance
changes, effective Jan. 1, 2018, would only apply to active volunteers who have
served for a certain period of time and career firefighters. Burns and Ridings
confirmed that the parameters were established by the state of Colorado.

Special awards given

Burns presented certificates of commendation to Pearson and
Assistant Chief Scott Ridings for their hard work in coordinating and developing
the highly successful North Group live fire training at the clubhouse of the
former Gleneagle Golf Course.

Bank balances increase

Popovich reported on the district’s October bank balances,
which increased by $5,245 overall. Director Joyce Hartung requested an amendment
to the October minutes to reflect that Burns responded to resident Gary Rusnak’s
question about the Station 2 easement.

Chiefs’ reports

Ridings reported that Wescott responded to 27 EMS calls and
30 fire calls for a total of 57 responses in October. Average response times
were 5:41 for EMS and 5:20 for fire, and an average 5:35 per call. Mutual Aid
was given on 14 calls and received on four calls. None of the calls resulted in
fire loss.

Popovich notes delay in notices

Feltz, the only resident in attendance, stated that he had
requested but not received notices of board meetings and meeting minutes. Feltz
also requested a copy of the budget. Popovich apologized for the delay in
meeting notices and minutes. Board President Greg Gent indicated that a budget
would be made available. Burns’ review of the budget clarified that a budget
would not be ready until December.

The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

**********

Santa Patrol set for Dec. 16

After the meeting, the district reported that Wescott’s
annual Santa Patrol, where Santa rides a fire truck through the district’s
neighborhoods and hands out candy to kids, is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dec. 16. Santa’s route will be posted on the website, listed below.

Caption: Assistant Chief Scott Ridings, left, and Capt.
Sean Pearson received honors for their exceptional work in training local fire
districts. Photo by Jennifer Kaylor.

**********

The next DWFPD board of directors meeting will be held on
Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. Note that this meeting is being held two weeks in
advance of its normal schedule. The meeting location is Station 1, 15415
Gleneagle Drive. Please call (719) 488-8680, a nonemergency number, for more
information, or visit www.wescottfire.org.
The district is also on Facebook and Twitter.

The Wagons West property is adjacent to Old Denver Road and
north of the Monument Ice Rink, covering 34.714 acres. The proposed housing
development would be composed of 131 residential dwelling units, with 54
attached single-family homes and 77 attached single-family townhomes. The
applicant—Wagons West LLC, in connection with NES Inc. as a consultant—intends
to complete this project in two phases.

Andrea Barlow, representing NES, explained that a goal of
this development is to contribute a wider range of housing options to the town.
Houses in Monument increased in price by about 10 percent over the last year,
and many professionals commute to the town because their salaries would not
accommodate living inside it. The Wagons West townhome residences are intended
to cost $230,000 to $250,000, providing more opportunities for young
professionals, new families and empty nesters looking to downsize to find
affordable housing in Monument, she said. The single-family houses that are
intended to come in a later phase of development will cost $260,000 to $280,000.
Both types will feature two to three bedrooms as well as garages that will
accommodate at least two cars. Sixty percent of the townhomes will have two-car
driveways.

A bit over 15 acres of open space would remain to the north
of the development, and a park would be situated between groups of houses.
Teachout Creek runs from east to west across the northern half of the property.
There would be 550 feet between the Wagons West development and the existing
neighborhood to the north, and 610 between this proposed project and the homes
to the west. Two points of access would be provided off Old Denver Road. Extra
parking spaces would be provided for visitors, alongside the option of parking
on the street.

There is sufficient water on the property to support the
development, Barlow said. Water rights for this land would be deeded to the
town, and a future well site area left clear.

The staff recommended conditions including providing a way to
cross the road to reach Old Denver Trail, accommodating for drainage, and
developing turn lanes.

Public hearing

Topics brought up during the public hearing included concern
for the endangered Preble’s meadow jumping mouse, as it was suggested that the
safe spaces set aside for the mouse have been shrinking with new developments,
and frustration from Trails End residents who do not believe they received
proper notice about this project. Worry was also expressed about how this
development might impact the creek, and an attendee called for more
accommodation of non-vehicular ways of getting around. A sidewalk leading
farther into Monument was suggested, so families could walk or bike in greater
safety.

One citizen noted that he lives 615 feet away and remembers
receiving a letter explaining the project. He expressed support for the
development and stated that realtors may not be entirely truthful about the
possibility of future developments in an area to try to sell homes. He noted
that this can’t be the Town of Monument’s responsibility.

The applicant responded, saying that traffic studies have
been conducted as well as studies pertaining to the protected mouse. A
piecemeal, incomplete sidewalk could be dangerous, and so it is thought
improvements would be best made over time.

Results

Commissioner Kimple moved to approve the Wagons West
development’s proposal with the suggested conditions, and it was approved
unanimously. The project will now go on to be reviewed by the Board of Trustees.

Other business

Commissioner Kevin Geisbert has stepped down, so the town
will be accepting applications for a new Planning Commission member. Other
commissioners’ terms will be expiring soon, too, so new positions will open.

**********

If a Monument Planning Commission meeting is held in
December, it will be at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 645 Beacon Lite Rd.
Meetings are normally held on the second Wednesday of the month. Information:
884-8017 or
http://www.townofmonument.org/meetings/.

Monument Board of Trustees, Nov. 20:

Pay raise for police proposed

By Lisa Hatfield

On Nov. 20, the Monument Board of Trustees (BOT) debated with
staff when and how to incorporate a police officer pay raise, which was just
suggested at the Nov. 18 budget workshop, into the 2018 budget. They also heard
updates on code enforcement, the Village Center Metro District, and the
Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce.

The board also celebrated the promotion of one of the Police
Department detectives. Mayor Pro-tem Don Wilson ran the meeting in the absence
of Mayor Jeffrey Kaiser.

The Nov. 6 meeting had been rescheduled to Oct. 30 and was
then canceled.

Police officer promoted

Monument Police Chief Jake Shirk said, "It is not too often
than the Police Department gets the opportunity to promote one of our own to the
next level." He said even eight years ago when he hired Joseph Lundy, he noticed
Lundy’s courage, fortitude, professionalism, and desire to be a great officer
for MPD.

Shirk said with Town Manager Chris Lowe’s support, MPD was
able to add a third sergeant position to "mentor our own to take our positions
when we are gone." Lundy was the top scorer on the test, and Shirk said he was
proud to offer him the position. See photo on right.

Trustees demand police salary increases

On Saturday, Nov. 18, the trustees and staff met at a budget
workshop where apparently some of the trustees made a surprise request that the
17 sworn police officer salaries be raised from the current $46,000 per year
step in grade (SIG) to somewhere between $48,000 and $56,000.

Because of this suggestion, at the Nov. 20 regular meeting,
Town Treasurer Pamela Smith provided a reworked draft budget to the trustees
that attempted to incorporate the range of suggested options for higher salaries
and their associated benefits, retirement and tax implications, and other
technical complications but would still be a balanced budget as required by
state statute. Note: This new draft document could not be included in the public
board packet due to the very short turnaround time. She did provide updated
copies of the new draft to the trustees.

"Because of the complexity of this, we should have started
this way back, way back in May or June. We are trying to push this that the
board requested so it can take effect Jan. 1, but it was just introduced on
Saturday," Smith said.

For example, she said if the SIG is raised to $52,000 per
year, it would require finding $130,000 more in the 2018 budget to cover the
difference. This would require either financing some budget items or making
cuts. "You are investing in the Police Department, and you are also committing
future boards and funds because these amounts are only going to grow," she told
them. She and Lowe presented a list of suggested projects that the trustees
could cut from the 2018 budget, including the wi-fi project for downtown, the
pocket park on Washington, the dock extension at that lake, the bathrooms at the
lake, and the electronic ticketing system.

Smith emphasized the need to make a decision soon, if the
trustees wanted to make the change for 2018, because of county and state
requirements for posting notices about budget meetings and turning in final
budgets. If the town misses its deadlines, the county could withhold property
tax revenue and the state could withhold sales tax revenue.

Trustee Greg Coopman asked Shirk if raising the salary to
$52,000 would make Monument more competitive in the marketplace. Shirk said it
would help, and $50,000 would help too. Note: One officer position has been
unfilled for over a year, and one candidate who had applied recently just
withdrew his application.

Trustee Jeff Bornstein said, "I was a little grumpy on
Saturday, and for that I still apologize." His concern was that if MPD did not
have enough officers, the safety of the other officers and the community would
be at risk. "It’s time. We have the money…. It’s nice to make decisions on what
to spend and what not to especially when you don’t live here (as some town staff
members live outside the town limits). And it’s the board’s decision."

Town Attorney Alicia Corley said, "My concern is that the
board does not normally set salaries." Bornstein raised his voice. "If we lose
officers, and an accident happens, and three or four thousand people sue the
town, when CIRSA drops us, who is going to take ownership and get canned?... It
is not for the town staff to direct the board. The board is supposed to direct
the staff."

Lowe disagreed with Bornstein, saying he has not heard of a
board that sets individual salaries for particular job titles in a town.

The board consensus was to direct Smith to incorporate
$52,000 and related costs as the new sworn officer salary in a new draft of the
2018 budget, and the trustees would bring their own ideas for what to cut to
balance the budget instead of just using the suggestions from Smith and Lowe.
Smith recommended that since timing was so tight at the end of the year, instead
of scheduling just a budget workshop, they could have a special meeting where
they could vote too.

Coopman said he had not heard anyone say they were not in
favor of an MPD pay increase, but that it needed to be done responsibly and
thoroughly. He suggested a resolution, along with the budget itself, to record
that the trustees specifically approved the pay increase.

The special budget meeting, open to the public, was set for
Saturday, Dec. 2 at 9 a.m. so that on Dec. 4 the final budget could be approved.

Facilities and compensation committees discussed

Lowe recommended that, "as an alternative to the way we have
had to tackle it this year," and "as a calmer way of getting trustees into the
budget discussions earlier in the process," the trustees should be involved,
along with staff, in the research and decision-making much sooner in the budget
process. He suggested that two trustees join a new compensation research
committee, and two different trustees join a facilities research committee.
"Then the other board members would have to trust those two to do the heavy
lifting and would give a recommendation to the board."

The trustees agreed that this would be a good idea to start
in early 2018.

Town manager’s report

Lowe’s written report summarized changes to the format of the
2018 budget, but this was not discussed by the trustees on Nov. 20. Changes
described include adding capital lease payments to the debt service fund and
setting up capital projects funds for specific departments’ projects and
improvements that fit set criteria. This will involve shifting expenses and
revenues worth hundreds of thousands of dollars related to the water enterprise
fund, the 1 percent 2A Water Acquisition, Storage, and Delivery (ASD) sales tax,
the town’s general fund, and the 2 percent sales tax collected by the state.

As of the Nov. 20 draft version of the 2018 budget, $884,250
in capital projects (CIP) in the general fund (GF) was funded, and $4.53 million
of CIP in the GF was unfunded. In the water enterprise fund (WEF), $345,000 in
CIP was funded, and $1.55 million in CIP was unfunded. Staff and trustees are
still working to determine how to fund all the 2018 budgets. Total projected
revenue for 2018 is $6 million.

• The town clerk developed the nomination petitions and
candidate information packet for April 2018 election.

• MPD is working with Tri-Lakes Monument FPD on active
shooter training and coordination responses.

• MPD officers have taken more reports this year than
ever before.

• Wagons West annexation and zoning has been reviewed by
Monument Planning Commission (See related MPC article on page 13) and is
scheduled for the Dec. 4 BOT meeting.

• We are scheduling a meeting with the new district
manager of Triview to discuss a few projects of mutual interest.

Code enforcement update

The town’s code enforcement subtractor, Susie Ellis of
Community Preservation Specialists Inc., told the trustees about her
interactions with residents since Aug. 7 when she took over the code enforcement
task from the town. She has logged 101 cases so far and said her objective is to
first help people understand what the code says and offer suggestions to them on
how to comply. Her comments included:

• I am informing and educating people about the town
ordinances, just like (Town Clerk) Laura Hogan did before me.

• I only go into a homeowners’ association if they need
my help. Otherwise they do their own enforcement (of their covenants).

• The town website will have answers to some common
questions soon.

• It does not do any good to be aggressive with people
when they just need to be educated first. It takes a little more time, but
results are better.

Note: People with "Monument" mailing addresses do not
necessarily live inside the town; they may live in unincorporated El Paso
County. To see if you live within the boundaries of the Town of Monument, see
zoning map at https://arcg.is/0TTjib.

Over the last year, VCMD and the town have had trouble
communicating and reaching consensus about possible resolutions to VCMD’s
revenue and debt problems. On Sept. 18, VCMD had a public hearing requesting a
material modification to its service plan where VCMD and the town disagreed
about the actual cost of maintaining roads inside VCMD. The discussion was
continued to Oct. 2, but no trustee made a motion on VCMD’s, request, so nothing
was voted on then.

On Nov. 20, after an emotional discussion about who did and
did not want to communicate with whom, the board consensus was to allow VCMD to
make another board presentation after the first of the year, and meanwhile
Romanello would reach out to Lowe.

Chamber of Commerce goals explained

Terri Hayes, president of Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce,
Economic Development (Coalition) (EDC) and visitors center, presented the
trustees and the audience with three facets of the Chamber’s roles. They
included:

• Providing information to new residents and visitors.
Hayes hopes to find a volunteer to staff the Chamber on Saturday mornings.

• Attracting both primary businesses (which generate
revenue from outside the Front Range) and secondary businesses (which
redistribute local revenue) and figuring out how to put our energy into
things we can influence. See www.ocn.me/v15n5.htm#mbot0406.

• Hosting the July 4 Street Fair and Beer Garden in
historic downtown, up to eight summer concerts at Limbach Park, the Bines
and Brews Festival at Limbach Park, and at the Chamber facility on Second
Street hosting the Chamber Breakfast Networking group, monthly business
education series, and many public group meetings.

Bornstein thanked Hayes for all the events on the west side
of town and then suggested having a concert on east side of the highway at the
clock tower north of Texas Roadhouse. Hayes said she would check into the
logistics.

Countywide water planning

Lowe said that at Trustee Dennis Murphy’s suggestion, Lowe
went with Public Works Director Tom Tharnish and Principal Planner Larry Manning
to meet with Craig Dossey, executive director, El Paso County Planning and
Community Development Department, to talk about countywide water planning.

The result was "refreshing," since Dossey told Lowe the
county was a neutral party that could facilitate between water providers and
developers, and the town was invited to participate in the steering committee
meetings. Lowe said leadership needs to come from the county to help the
numerous special districts and municipalities collaborate on securing future
renewable water supplies.

Checks over $5,000

The BOT approved the consent agenda unanimously. It included
the following checks over $5,000:

The consent agenda also included a resolution extending the
term of Municipal Judge John Ciccolella through Dec. 31, 2018.

Public comments

• Resident Nancy Swearengin asked the trustees if they
were so adamant about the $52,000 police salary, how many of them had voted
down affordable multi-family or subsidized housing that someone making that
salary could afford to live in?

• Joseph Whitman asked about the Comprehensive Plan and
if the town was doing its planning in a vacuum. What other towns are being
used as a model for Monument’s future? Or are we going off-azimuth into the
desert? What about our support elements to keep up with growth?

At 8:25 p.m., the board went into executive session for
receiving legal advice on the Forest View Estates litigation. Town Clerk Laura
Hogan told OCN that the board did not take any votes or make any announcements
after the meeting resumed.

The Monument Board of Trustees usually meets at 6:30 p.m. on
the first and third Mondays of each month at Monument Town Hall, 645 Beacon Lite
Road. A special meeting to work and vote on the budget is scheduled for
Saturday, Dec. 2. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 4.

Note: "Planning 101, An Overview of the Planning
Process from Start to Finish," is a workshop for the Board of Trustees, Planning
Commission, Board of Adjustments, and the public on Jan. 8, 2018, at 5:30 p.m.
at the Monument Town Hall.

The Palmer Town Council met once in November, on Nov. 9, when
the trustees discussed the town’s preliminary 2018 budget. Also, Michelle
Connolly, the forester for the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP),
presented the findings of the Home Ignition Zone assessment she and her team did
on the town of Palmer Lake. Jeff Hulsmann and Bill Fisher, representing the
Awake the Lake committee, reported to the Town Council on the current state of
the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant.

Direction for GOCO grant sparks debate

Hulsmann addressed the Town Council, describing the work the
Awake the Lake committee is doing to add a bridge spanning the railroad tracks
and connecting the park with the town of Palmer Lake. He emphasized the need for
a bridge that would provide a safe way for users of the park to cross the
railroad tracks and get to the town’s businesses. Hulsmann said Awake the Lake
was ready to move forward with the construction of the bridge, but felt there
was reluctance to proceed on the part of the Town Council. He asked the board to
approve the expenditure of $130,000 to move earth in preparation for the
construction of the bridge.

Palmer Lake Park includes areas on both sides of the railroad
tracks and had a previous Master Plan in 2007 that was updated for the $350,000
GOCO grant the town received in 2015.

Architect Fisher, who designed the proposed bridge, said
final approval from the railroad was imminent, and that he had been told Awake
the Lake could "proceed with confidence."

Several trustees expressed concerns with the idea of
approving the expenditure requested by Hulsmann. Trustee Mark Schuler said that
no contractor had yet bid on the work, and that final approval from the railroad
was not in hand. Town Attorney Maureen Juran said she saw a risk that the town
might pay for the earthwork and then the final approval from the railroad might
not appear. Trustee Paul Banta and Mayor John Cressman also expressed concerns
about approving the funds for the earthwork.

Banta went on to say he felt Awake the Lake had done a great
job with fundraising, but the town was still responsible for the grant. He said
he felt there needed to be better coordination and teamwork between the town and
Awake the Lake.

These concerns led to a frustrated response from Hulsmann,
who argued that it was not practical to wait to move forward with the project
until all these issues were resolved.

After further discussion that sometimes grew heated, Hulsmann
agreed that Awake the Lake would be responsible for the costs of the earthwork.
Juran said this would address her concern about spending town money before final
approvals were in place. Hulsmann said he felt the town and Awake the Lake were
not pulling in the same direction, but he was glad the project could move
forward.

The town doesn’t want to spend the GOCO funds until Awake the
Lake actually gets the approval from the railroad on the bridge design. But the
dirt moving should happen now to avoid weather delays, since they have a project
deadline.

Savings account information

added to budget

During the review of the of town’s preliminary budget for
2018, Trustees Mitch Daniel and Mark Schuler asked Town Clerk Tara Berreth if
the budget properly documented all the town’s financial assets. Specifically,
they asked if funds in savings accounts were included.

Mayor John Cressman directed the town staff to revise the
budget by documenting reserve funds held in savings accounts.

Home Ignition Zone assessment

raises concerns

Michelle Connolly, speaking on behalf of CUSP, showed the
council a map of fire risk for the town of Palmer Lake that her team had
developed. To assess the risk of fire, her team looked at 458 properties in the
town between Feb. 6 and Nov. 3.

Connolly’s team assessed factors on each property, such as:
visible street address on the house, length of driveway, vegetation overhanging
the roof, type of roofing material used, whether debris was present on the roof
and in gutters, type of soffit, type of window, type of siding, and several
other factors in determining the risk of fire.

She said that overall, her team expected to see more fire
risk in The Glen than they found. She attributed this to the amount of fire
remediation work that has been done in that neighborhood.

According to Connolly, the largest risk factor was
vegetation, brush, and trees within 5 feet of homes. The next largest risk was
the presence of ladder fuel, which is live or dead vegetation that allows a fire
to climb up from the landscape or forest floor into the tree canopy.

Connolly pointed out that when wildfire strikes, a blizzard
of embers and burning debris creates spot fires. She emphasized the importance
of being proactive to address these issues.

The two meetings for December will be at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 14
and Dec. 28 at Town Hall, 42 Valley Crescent. Meetings are normally held on the
second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Information: 481-2953.

Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District,
Nov. 9:

Board hears preliminary discussion of rates

By James Howald

On Nov. 9, Rob Wadsworth and Richard D. Giardina, both of
Raftelis Financial Consultants, spoke to the board about possible changes to the
district’s rates. Their discussion focused on how to set the rates for
non-potable water, and what changes, if any, to make to the Renewable Water
Investment Fee (RWIF). The board also held a public meeting on the proposed
budget for 2018 at the November meeting.

District has seen "pretty significant growth"

In their opening remarks, Wadsworth and Giardina pointed out
that the district had about 3.3 percent more customers paying monthly bills than
in 2016. Tap fees, which are paid when new houses are connected to the system,
are also up significantly, raising the question of how to use this extra
revenue.

Wadsworth and Giardina said that they did not see a need to
raise water rates in 2018, but a rate increase of 2 percent, beginning in 2019,
would raise enough money to finance all the district’s capital improvement
projects. They said they initially thought it would take a 4 percent increase in
rates to do that, but as they developed their analysis they concluded the growth
in the district would increase revenue to the point where those projects could
be funded with a smaller increase.

Non-potable water rates too low to recover cost of the service

Wadsworth and Giardina told the board that historically
residential water service has subsidized the non-potable water service that the
district delivers to a small set of customers who need that service. The
Lewis-Palmer school district and the golf course are the two largest customers
for non-potable water, which is not treated before it is delivered.

The cost of non-potable water is influenced by the cost of
the dedicated lines used to deliver it, they said. Previous analyses of the cost
of non-potable water had overlooked some universal costs of the service, and
including those costs showed that the district has been undercharging that small
set of customers.

The board asked Wadsworth and Giardina to continue their
rates-setting work based on the assumption that non-potable rates will increase
in 2018.

RWIF to remain unchanged in 2018

Wadsworth and Giardina asked the board to give them some
direction on whether to include a lower RWIF in their calculations, or leave it
unchanged in 2018. The consensus of the board was to leave the RWIF unchanged at
$43 per month in 2018.

Proposed budget for 2018 has few changes

In the public hearing for the proposed budget for 2108,
District Manager Jessie Shaffer mentioned that the Town of Monument had passed a
10 mill increase in taxes for water, which would allow the town to compensate
WWSD for certain overpayments WWSD had made, and that that revenue had been
added to the budget.

An additional $100,000 had been added to the budget to repair
pinholes that have appeared in PVC pipe used in some locations in the district.
Assistant District Manager Randy Gillette said the additional funds would be
used to replace 400 feet of damaged pipe.

Gillette also mentioned the project to rebuild a siphon on
the Chilcott ditch had been completed slightly under budget.

**********

The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. Meetings
are usually held at the district office at 1845 Woodmoor Drive on the second
Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. See
www.woodmoorwater.com or call 488-2525 to verify meeting times.

Tri-Lakes Wastewater Treatment Facility
Joint Use Committee, Nov. 14:

Final payment made on total phosphorus removal tertiary clarifier expansion

By Lisa Hatfield

On Nov. 14, the Tri-Lakes Wastewater Treatment Facility
(TLWWTF) Joint Use Committee (JUC) applauded the completion of the chemical
total phosphorus (TP) removal tertiary clarifier expansion, approved its 2018
facility budget, and discussed ongoing efforts to keep the facility running at
its best possible efficiency and meet or exceed legislated requirements.

TLWWTF operates as a separate joint venture public utility
and is owned in equal one-third shares by Monument Sanitation District (MSD),
Palmer Lake Sanitation District (PLSD), and Woodmoor Water and Sanitation
District (WWSD).

The three-member JUC acts as the board of the facility and
consists of one director from each of the three owner districts’ boards: WWSD
board Director at Large Rich Strom, president; MSD board Chairman Ed DeLaney,
vice president; and PLSD board Director Pat Smith, treasurer/secretary. Other
board and staff members of the three owner districts also attended, including
MSD District Manager Mike Wicklund, PLSD District Manager Becky Orcutt, and WWSD
District Manager Jessie Shaffer.

Final payment made for new construction

Facility Manager Bill Burks told the JUC that he had made the
final payment of $24,788 to Aslan Construction for the chemical TP removal
tertiary clarifier expansion. The expansion’s construction contract was awarded
to Aslan on May 12, 2015. See www.ocn.me/v15n6.htm#tljuc0512.

Burks then mentioned a credit and one more change order that
he had received just before this meeting that weren’t included in the October
JUC accounts payable report. The total cost of the construction was originally
estimated at $1 million but has crept up to more than three times that amount.
Burks said he would work with Shaffer and Wicklund, who have been keeping a
construction cost spreadsheet of their own, to present the JUC with the total
actual cost. See www.ocn.me/v14n9.htm#tljuc-0812.

Note: TLWWTF was not originally designed to remove
phosphorus because there was no such requirement in place or forecast when the
activated sludge plant was built. See
www.ocn.me/v14n9.htm#tljuc-0812.

Burks said that the facility’s September Discharge Monitoring
Report (DMR) showed phosphorus levels averaged 7.1 mg/l on the influent coming
into the facility, 3.2 mg/l in the effluent at the discharge point into Monument
Creek, and reduced to 0.68 mg/l at Baptist Road as plant life absorbed the
nutrients along the way.

TLWWTF will have to start complying with the new state Reg.
85 annual rolling median treated effluent limit of 1 mg/l for TP at the end of
the TP clarifier expansion’s compliance period in the facility’s current
five-year discharge permit, on Nov. 1, 2019. The first monthly annual rolling
median used as a 1 mg/l permit limit will take effect on Nov. 1, 2020, after a
full year of initial tests results have been reported in the monthly DMRs. See
www.ocn.me/v17n11.htm#tlwtfjuc.

2018 budget approved

No members of the public attended or spoke during the public
hearing on the facility’s 2018 budget. The required separate resolutions to
adopt the budget and to appropriate the sums of money set forth in the budget
were both approved unanimously. Revenue to operate and maintain TLWWTF comes
from the three owner districts, which contribute varying amounts based on
percentages of biological oxygen demand (BOD), flow, sludge removal, and
construction projects. Figures for 2017 and estimates for 2018:

• 2017 budgeted revenues were $1.24 million

• 2017 actual revenues were $1.15 million, about 7
percent less than budgeted

• 2017 budgeted expenditures were $1.21 million

• 2017 actual expenditures were $1.11 million, about 8
percent less than budgeted

• Estimated 2018 revenues were $1.19 million, about 4
percent less than budgeted for 2017

• Estimated 2018 expenditures were $1.15 million, about 5
percent less than budgeted for 2017.

Projected 2018 expenditures include several pieces of
replacement capital equipment, repairs, maintenance, plant operator expenses,
and special and chemical monitoring, but it does not include construction costs,
since the chemical TP clarifier is complete. This 2018 budget also does not
include costs for the chemicals needed to run the TP clarifier since Burks has
already taken it offline, after a brief compliance testing period earlier this
year. Burks has stated at several JUC meetings that he does not plan to operate
the TP clarifier in 2018 in order to avoid chemical costs for alum, polymer,
and/or sodium hydroxide which are used to chemically remove TP by the process of
flocculation, saving up to $200,000 in 2018. See
www.ocn.me/v17n11.htm#tlwtfjuc.

Managers’ reports

Neither Orcutt, Shaffer, nor Wicklund had anything to report
during the district managers’ agenda item.

Burks presented the DMR for September. The facility is
operating very well.

However, he said TLWWTF "had an issue" with the Ceriodaphnia
dubia portion of the third-quarter Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Test. In the
previous quarter, there had been a problem with the fathead minnow portion of
the facility’s WET test, but the plant is still in compliance, he said. The JUC
discussed whether they needed to find a testing facility that would not give
TLWWTF so many "false positives."

Also, there was a question related to BOD, which measures how
much oxygen the organisms in the wastewater consume as they process the organic
waste. In the flow and BOD analysis for influent from MSD, WWSD, and PLSD, the
figures looked normal for September.

However, for October, Wicklund pointed out that the sampling
numbers indicated a 20 percent jump in BOD, to 90.3 percent of TLWWTF’s rated
BOD capacity of 5,600 pounds of organic waste loading per day. Burks was not
able to quantify the spike because it was so high, and he said he would change
the testing dilution for the November tests so that it can be discussed in
detail at the December meeting.

Even including this spike, the average for the year is 29
percent of hydraulic loading and 61 percent of organic loading, but the state
only looks at one month at a time, Burks said. Note: the Colorado Water Quality
Control Act requires that if a facility has more than three months in a row at
80 percent of either of these two designed capacities, it would be required to
start engineering design for expansion construction to meet the higher influent
treatment demand.

The proper amount of aeration from the blowers assists
aerobic bacteria in the facility’s activated sludge aeration basins to do their
part in the biological decomposition treatment process. Wicklund said that the
JUC may have to spend money to add to or change its aeration blower capacity in
the future. The JUC discussed several options Burks could investigate in the
meantime, including asking the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment (CDPHE) to reclassify the plant’s BOD capacity from 5,600 back up to
9,800 pounds.

After asking Burks what he thought caused the surge, Shaffer
said he had a theory that he would first discuss with WWSD Assistant Manager
Randy Gillette, before providing information to the JUC. His working theory was
that when WWSD discontinued its ozone demonstration scale project in October and
emptied the backwash waste holding tank, this might have added substantial extra
organics to the TLWWTF influent from the South Woodmoor WSD collector line.

• The stricter Reg. 31.17 interim values for phosphorus
and nitrogen for rivers and streams were delayed to 2027.

• Colorado Nutrients Control Reg. 85 was extended through
2027.

• Implementation of the final nutrient limits for
existing wastewater treatment facilities was postponed for five years to
2027.

• The nutrient incentive program, aimed at facilities
that can already achieve effluent concentrations lower than the Regulation
85 effluent limitation, was adopted. This could benefit facilities by
extending their compliance schedules to meet variances for phosphorus or
nitrogen after 2027.

Burks said he had contacted Aimee Konawal, environmental data
unit manager for the WQCD at CDPHE, to find out more about how to apply for the
incentive program for nitrogen. Burks thought the facility could easily meet the
current Reg. 85 15 mg/l limit for total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) and use the
extended time frame to search for funding for treating nitrogen in the future if
the far more stringent interim value limits for TP and total nitrogen in state
Regulation 31.17 replace the Reg. 85 TP/TIN limits sometime after 2027. He did
not want to pursue the phosphorus incentive program, though, because it costs so
much to ratchet down TP levels well below the tight 1 mg/l limits in Reg. 85
that already take effect under the facility’s current five-year discharge permit
in November 2019, well before 2027, creating a need for much higher operational
costs eight years early.

Other AF CURE topics Burks mentioned:

• AF CURE approved the 2018 contract for Brown &
Caldwell, including $62,500 for nutrients modeling and $45,000 for Andrew
Neuhart to provide services as AF CURE’s new coordinator with the state and
EPA.

• TLWWTF can now stop sampling at its locations at Smith
Creek near the mining museum and at Dirty Woman Creek by Old Denver Road,
after creating a two-year existing ambient concentration baseline for many
potentially toxic Monument Creek instream dissolved constituent organics,
chemicals, and metals.

• Environmental attorney Connie King said that water
wells in Widefield are less than 100 feet deep, making them more vulnerable
to contamination from toxins like the perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in
firefighting foam used at Petersen Air Force Base.

Wicklund said that MSD Environmental Compliance Coordinator
Jim Kendrick, who is also vice chairman of AF CURE, attended the Nov. 13 Water
Quality Control Commission Issues Formulation Hearing on the triennial review of
the Arkansas and Rio Grande basins, Regs. 32 and 36 (5 CCR 1002-32 and 5 CCR
1002-36). Wicklund also said Kendrick was attending the Nov. 14 Water Quality
Control Division stakeholder meeting on Reg. 93 responsive prehearing statement
negotiations on the Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waters and Monitoring and
Evaluation List instead of the JUC meeting. Burks said Neuhart talked about
prehearing statement issues including effects of the Waldo Canyon Fire and storm
precipitation.

Wicklund said that currently, Monument Creek is on the Clean
Water Act Section 303(d) list of "impaired" streams because of stormwater runoff
from "non-point sources of E. coli" such as wildlife, cattle, and domestic
animals. He said TLWWTF improves the quality of the stream by diluting it with
TLWWTF’s much cleaner discharged effluent.

Sharing resources

Burks thanked the Town of Monument for donating and
delivering about 10 loads of used asphalt to TLWWTF for use in extending the
driveway down to the new chemical TP removal tertiary clarifier expansion
building. He was also grateful to contractor Lou Williams for his advice and to
WWSD for the use of its backhoe to complete the work in-house.

Discussion of Don Quixote
and OCN

Burks told the JUC that he stood by his statements made at
the October JUC meeting regarding Fort Carson’s wastewater treatment plant
operation and lack of conservation of potable water. See
www.ocn.me/v17n11.htm#tlwtfjuc.

Burks said that he found out through a third party that,
after an OCN reader alerted Fort Carson staff to his comments, he is no
longer allowed on Fort Carson’s wastewater treatment premises.

Strom said, "You are on the right side of this issue, there
is no doubt. I appreciate that you are Don Quixote at the moment." But he and
Orcutt said the JUC was not the forum to take on this issue. Burks said even the
Fort Carson staff was disappointed at how much paperwork they would need to do
to make needed changes at their facility.

At Burks’ request, at 11:02 a.m. the meeting went into
executive session to discuss personnel matters. Strom stated that he did not
anticipate making any announcements after the meeting resumed.

**********

The next meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 12 at the
Tri-Lakes Wastewater Treatment Facility, 16510 Mitchell Ave. The JUC annual
meeting, which is a public meeting, will be Dec. 13 at La Casa Fiesta in
Monument. Meetings are normally held on the second Tuesday of the month and are
open to the public. For information, call Bill Burks at 719-481-4053.

Triview Metropolitan District, Nov. 14:

Board hears central irrigation control proposal

By Jennifer Kaylor

The Triview Metropolitan District Board of Directors convened
on Nov. 14, hearing Water Manager and Independent Conservation Consultant Evan
Miles of Conservative Waters, Inc. present his recommendations for a centralized
irrigation system controller that he said would ensure greater water, time, and
energy efficiencies. Interim District Manager James McGrady updated the
directors about well repairs, road and open space maintenance, staffing, and
proposed 2018 budget details. The board approved a number of resolutions and
heard several comments from residents.

Vice President Mark Melville ran the meeting in the absence
of President Reid Bolander.

Triview is a Title 32 special district within the 80132 ZIP
code that provides roads, landscaping, open space maintenance, and water and
sanitation services to Jackson Creek, Promontory Pointe, Sanctuary Pointe, and
several commercial areas. The Town of Monument provides land use planning,
police, and general governance for the district’s property owners.

Cloud-based smart irrigation considered

In an audit of Triview’s landscaping irrigation system, Miles
discovered that 14 out of 24 of the sprinkler system’s clocks were
malfunctioning to some degree. Triview has roughly 300 sprinkler zones and 4,000
sprinkler heads. The board affirmed Miles’ estimate that 75 to 90 percent of the
district’s water consumption is directed to landscaping. Evapotranspiration (ET)
is the loss of water from the earth and plants to the atmosphere, explained
Miles. Common water wasters are overwatering (such as watering during or
immediately after a rainstorm), improper nozzle design or placement,
evaporation, and wind. Different plants and soils lose water at different rates,
and Triview’s current irrigation system does not address these differences.

Miles emphasized that he is an independent consultant and has
worked with a variety of irrigation companies. He recommended a cloud-based
smart irrigation system developed by the company ETwater (see
https://etwater.com for more information about the company). ETwater is Smart
Water Application Technology (SWAT) certified and its system would include:

• Centralized control.

• Scientific irrigation scheduling (as opposed to an
intuitive system) from every zone within the district’ boundaries that
replenishes only what is necessary. Zone microclimates are assessed on
temperature, soil radiation, soil type, wind, plant type, root zone, slope,
and exposure.

• Communication provided by a cloud-based 4G network (not
Wi-Fi) that is available to staff via cell phones, tablets, and laptops. Can
incorporate redundancy to prevent massive water loss.

• System automatically alerts district employees about
specific problems in specific locations that then serve as work orders for
staff and hone manpower efficiency. Before/after photos can be stored in the
cloud to confirm completion of work orders. If problems are not addressed,
the alert is given greater priority.

• Monitoring of water use and flow control (as opposed to
water pressure) to automatically shut off water when malfunctions occur.

• Responsiveness to weather forecasting.

• Easy access to hardware that is protected from the
elements.

• Mapping of stations and zones on Google Maps for easy
location.

In response to questions from the board, Miles added that the
system does not place water sensors in the ground because they clog easily and
deteriorate quickly, and the system could use reuse water as well as potable
water. When asked about new developers building in Triview, Miles affirmed that
the district could establish new standards to fit the needs of smart irrigation.
(However, the Town of Monument makes all land use and final site plan approval
for development within Triview.) There is also no limit to the amount of
additional capacity that can be incorporated into the smart irrigation system,
he said.

Miles cited a conservative water savings estimate of 20 to 50
percent annually and added that he has not seen savings less than 40 percent in
Colorado Springs. Miles quoted a cost estimate of $66,000 for materials, $50,000
for analysis, installation, training, and initial intensive monitoring, and then
$5,000 per year for the 4G data cell plan monitoring the system. With $50,000
allotted to water system in the 2018 draft budget, the board considered
splitting the cost between the 2018 and 2019 budgets. McGrady cautioned against
the split because of the severity of the need and problems associated with a
"Band-Aid" approach. The board also considered the pros and cons of hiring one
or more contractors to deal with alerts from the system.

In summary, Miles stated that he believed ETwater would
provide "the most bang for the buck" by providing the highest potential for
increased efficiency and aesthetic value while simultaneously providing greater
control and decreasing infrastructure stress. If approved, preliminary
installation work could begin as early as January 2018 with the goal of testing
for uniformity in April and achieving full functionality by May. The final
decision will be made when the directors vote on the 2018 budget at the Dec. 12
meeting.

Discussion lends clarity to 2018 budget

McGrady informed the board that because the public
announcement about the 2018 budget was not officially published prior to the
Nov. 14 meeting, the public hearing on the budget will be conducted at the Dec.
12 board meeting, but the board could review the budget at the current meeting
as originally planned.

McGrady focused first on capital expenses. Under the general
fund, the budget included $1.2 million to "catch up" on street and open space
improvements. Funds have been prioritized to hire contractors for fertilizing
and weed control, maintain equipment, and employ additional staff to support the
irrigation system. Calculating $387,000 to mill and overlay one mile of road
with a plan to complete 2 miles per year, McGrady suggested an annual estimate
of $700,000 to $1 million for street improvements for following years. A
well-laid road should last 15-20 years, McGrady commented, and Triview has
"20-plus" miles of road.

The budget included $25,000 in matching funds for Public
Works Superintendent Gerry Shisler to apply for a $75,000 Great Outdoors
Colorado (GoCo) matching landscape master plan grant. . The grant would likely
cover consultant fees for the new irrigation control system. A second $350,000
grant is a potential source of funds once the master plan is complete.

McGrady summarized that the district needed to streamline
road maintenance, create a good mapping system, and coordinate repair and
maintenance bids with the Town of Monument to capitalize on economies of scale.
The primary goal of the landscape budget is to employ a corps of staff and
contractors to attack the spring workload, get ahead—and stay ahead—of
maintenance, and manage the irrigation system.

Under the enterprise fund expenses, the board discussed the
current and anticipated rising cost of treating wastewater at Donala, including
$1 million needed in 2018 for an arsenic treatment system. McGrady reported that
the truck yard had been cleaned and will be reconfigured to make room for the
newly purchased Conex, an outdoor storage unit. Shisler praised the temporary
workers who cleaned the yard, tested and winterized the snow removal equipment,
and prepared the spring/summer equipment for storage.

Director Jim Otis asked if there would be more discussion
about many items in the budget that had not been specifically discussed yet and
were usually spread out over the whole year. McGrady asked the directors to
email him with specific questions before the Dec. 12 final budget discussion and
approval.

McGrady proposed possible uses for assets in the water and
wastewater enterprise fund such as well improvements, permitting to jump-start
the reuse system, funding an Integrated Water Resources Plan, or purchasing
renewable water. McGrady commented that the backwash water hasn’t been metered
accurately, which makes it difficult to account for all water use, and Water
Superintendent Shawn Sexton confirmed that is a regulatory requirement. McGrady
closed the budget discussion stating that the enterprise fund is strong on
assets but begs the question of how to knit all of the needs and resources
together. A less detailed version of the draft budget is posted on Triview’s
website at
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/triviewmetro/triview-metropolitan-district-proposed-2018-budget.

McGrady reminded everyone that the 35 mills that Triview
residents pay in property taxes is strictly to service debt. The operational
budgets have to survive on sales tax and water and wastewater rates and fees.
See revenue and pie charts at
www.ocn.me/pdf/v17n9%2013.pdf.

Residents bring requests, praise, and complaints

Resident Karen Halenkamp stated that Bear Creek Elementary
School students’ lives are in danger because parents are driving recklessly and
parking inappropriately. Halenkamp requested that the curbs near the crosswalks
be painted to prevent parents from parking too closely to the crossing areas and
impeding visibility.

Four other residents echoed one another’s complaints about
the weeds and overall degradation of neighborhood common areas. A brief
discussion about snow removal revealed that confusion remains about who or what
entity is responsible for shoveling around mailboxes. Erik Demkowicz, Andrew
McPherson, and Ken Kimple also praised McGrady on the progress that has been
accomplished since his arrival. For more information about the district’s
landscape and winter street maintenance policies, see
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/triviewmetro/district-policies.

McPherson asked questions about proposed water rates
increases. McGrady said the increases planned this year were "to make ends
meet," but in 2018 Triview would do a detailed cost-of-service study regarding
water rates.

In response to a comment regarding lack of up-to-date
information on the district’s website, Otis explained that the website is
currently provided by the state of Colorado for free, which limits its
functionality. The board is considering website management options.

Sexton spoke on behalf of "all the people who work with me in
the district, Rob Lewis, John Baker, and Greg Clausen, and offer support to Jim,
our new district manager and all you board members."

Operations update

Sexton and McGrady updated the board on water and road
operations, respectively, that included:

• Repaired a failed well A8 electrical pump. Contracted
with Applied Ingenuity to replace that well and conduct preventive
maintenance and exploratory testing on another well.

• Repaired a break on an improperly installed
two-year-old 8-inch water main in the King Soopers parking lot.

• Began preparations for a December state inspection and
analysis of recordkeeping.

• Contracted with Avery Construction to pave, mill, and
fill cracks starting in Jackson Creek. Scheduled another contractor to begin
concrete work—cross pans, curb and gutter, some sidewalks—after
Thanksgiving. Winterized the sprinkler system. Hired a landscape contractor
for fall turf fertilizing as a way to test job-specific contracting.

Resolutions and other items approved

McGrady presented action items that were approved unanimously
and included:

• Triview’s Public Record Policy—this brings the district
into full conformance with fees.

• Resolution 08-2017 Modifying Water Development
Requirements and In-Lieu-of-Fees/Supplies—this maintains the district’s
discretion on a case-by-case basis and establishes a preference for
renewable water to those bringing in-lieu-of water supplies. See
http://www.ocn.me/v17n11.htm#tvmd for detailed information on in-lieu-of
fees.

• A request by Creekside Developers Inc. to form an
overlapping metropolitan district located wholly or partly within
Triview—this serves as a funding mechanism to build roads and stipulates
that the word "Triview" not be in the name.

• Financials—checks over $5,000 and September 2017
financials were accepted as presented. Revenue is slightly ahead of
schedule. Developer Classic Homes has been reimbursing the district monthly.

• The board approved a motion to accept the $75,000 GoCo
grant regarding master planning development to fund a grant with a $25,000
combination cash and in-kind match from Triview and authorize Director Marco
Fiorito to sign a letter of support.

The meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m.

**********

The next Triview Metro Board of Directors meeting is
scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 5 p.m. at the Fairfield Inn, Mt. Herman
Conference Room, 15275 Struthers Road, Colorado Springs. Meetings are normally
held on the second Tuesday of the month. Information: 488-6868 or see
www.colorado.gov/triviewmetro.
Triview is also on Facebook.

Nov. 7 election results

By Erin Poole

This is a summary of some of the official results of the Nov.
7 election. Ballot titles are abbreviated here. See www.epcvotes.com for full
election results. Overall voter turnout for El Paso County was 153,832 voters
(38.83%). The winning outcomes are shown in bold.

El Paso County Ballot Measure 1A

Without imposing new taxes or raising tax rates, shall El
Paso County be permitted to retain and spend $14,548 in excess 2016 revenue to
invest only in the following infrastructure: The I-25 corridor gap local share
and other roadway safety and improvement projects, up to $12 million; disaster
recovery projects; and parks, trails and open space projects?

Yes: 102,187 votes (67.2%); No: 49,868 votes (32.8%)

City of Colorado Springs Ballot Measure 2A

Without imposing any new tax or increasing any existing
taxes, shall Ordinance No. 17-69 of the City of Colorado Springs be approved
authorizing: the collection of stormwater service fees for the sole purpose of
funding through a City enterprise, the construction, improvement operation and
maintenance of public stormwater facilities and a public stormwater system in
the City?

Yes: 55,511 votes (53.7%); No: 47,883 votes (46.3%)

Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District Ballot Measure 5A

Shall Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District taxes be
increased $2,900,000 annually by increasing property taxes rate from 6.9 mills
to 18.40 mills for funding the operations of the District to provide proper fire
protection, emergency response, and safety for the residents, property owners
and businesses of the district?

Yes: 6,618 votes (61.76%); No: 4,098 votes (38.24%)

Donald Westcott Fire Protection District Ballot Measure 5C

Shall Donald Westcott Fire Protection District Northern
Subdistrict Taxes be increased $1,418,411 annually by increasing the
subdistrict’s property tax of 7.000 mills by 14.900 mills to be used for
continuing provision of services, programs and facilities within the subdistrict?

At the El Paso Board of County Commissioners’ (BOCC) Nov. 9
meeting, Commissioner Mark Waller thanked the citizens of the county for passing
the measure on Nov. 7 to allow the county to keep excess revenue above the
Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) cap. This will be spent on infrastructure
improvements. The BOCC also made decisions relating to the Monument Hill Road
Safety Improvements Project and to the High Forest Ranch, Jackson Ranch, and
Majestic Pines developments.

November ballot question

Speaking at the BOCC’s Nov. 9 meeting following the results
of the Nov. 7 election, Commissioner Waller said, "I couldn’t be more pleased
with the results and more pleased with the citizens of El Paso County stepping
up and voting greater than 2-to-1 to allow us to take excess TABOR dollars and
use those for critical infrastructure needs that were neglected, necessarily so,
during the Great Recession."

The BOCC voted to put the measure on the Nov. 7 ballot
following discussions at its Aug. 29 and Sept. 5 meetings. The $14.5 million in
excess 2016 revenues will be used to repair roads, improve parks and trails, and
complete the remaining projects from the September 2013 flooding. Some of the
funds will go toward accelerating the widening of I-25 from Monument to Castle
Rock. See http://www.ocn.me/v17n10.htm#epbocc.

Monument Hill Road Safety Improvements Project

At its Oct. 31 meeting, the BOCC approved two requests
relating to the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority’s I-25 Monument Hill
Road Safety Improvements Project, which expects to start construction in summer
2018. The project, which has a budget of $3.965 million, will correct
deficiencies in the roadway. Enhancements are expected to include improvements
to sight distance, horizontal and vertical alignments, drainage and water
quality, as well as the addition of shoulders and intersection improvements.

The BOCC approved two easements that the Department of Public
Works had identified as necessary to allow construction to be carried out. The
first is a non-exclusive permanent easement being acquired from GEB Holdings LLC
for the sum of $20,400. The second easement is a temporary construction easement
relating to property owned by International Students Inc. and situated on a
portion of Lot 2 of the Greater Europe Mission subdivision on Base Camp Road.
The property owner is donating the property required for the project to the
county.

Other decisions made included:

• Nov. 7—the partial release of a check for grading and
erosion control at Lot 48, High Forest Ranch Filing No. 2 for $43,088 (plus
accrued interest) following completion and inspection of 80 percent of the
work.

• Nov. 14—an application for preliminary acceptance of
certain streets within Jackson Ranch Filing No. 2 into the county road
maintenance system following the completion and inspection of the public
improvements in this subdivision.

• Nov. 21—the final release of letter of credit for
public improvements of Majestic Pines Filing No. 1 for $54,281 following the
completion and inspection of the public improvements in this subdivision.

The MVEA mission is "to provide our members with reliable and
affordable electric service that is consistent with sound engineering and
business practices," stated Herron. Formed in 1941 and headquartered in Limon
with a second office located in Falcon, MVEA is a member-owned electric
cooperative that Herron described as a hybrid between an investor-owned utility
(IOU) and a municipality.

IOUs are owned by stockholders who don’t necessarily receive
service from or live within the service area of the utility, and the board of
directors is elected by stockholders. A municipality is owned by the government
and people of a town, but no one has a certificate of ownership. People who
receive MVEA’s services are called member-owners. They hear updates, share
feedback and provide input at the co-op’s annual meeting and district
Lamplighter dinner meetings.

• Power source – MVEA purchases its electricity from
Tri-State Generation and Transmission and delivers it to the member-owners.

• Number of employees – 140, supplemented by a host of
contractors who work on new construction.

• Miles of energized line – 6,055

• Meters per mile – average of 8.80, but can reach 8
miles per meter in rural areas

• Service territory – 5,000 square miles

• Number of meters ¬– 53,285, 75-80 percent of which are
within a 5-mile radius of Colorado Springs

• Number of members – 45,000

• Territory – 85 miles high and 96 miles wide.

What is impact of local growth on MVEA?

Herron commented that Monument is in the fastest-growing
"township" in its area.

He said that the line extension policy for developers is that
they "pay the first and the last dollar" of new lines and "the new growth pays
its way."

MVEA tries to anticipate the growth and prevent the need for
upgrades.

Management and money

MVEA is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors that is
elected by the membership, with each director representing one of the seven
districts. Considered a self- or unregulated utility, the board establishes
rates, policies, and oversight. The "backstop" for unresolved complaints is the
Public Utility Commission (PUC). The board’s monthly meeting agendas and
approved minutes are posted at the Limon and Falcon offices and on the website.
See https://www.mvea.coop/ for more information.

Rates generate the revenue for MVEA, and profits, or
"margins," are allocated back to the membership as capital credits according to
the amount of patronage or revenue that a member has paid on account. MVEA will
pay about $3.5 million in capital credits in December 2017 and will have retired
about $55 million to members since its inception.

Expectations for 2018

Herron stated that the co-op spends about $20 million in
electrical system infrastructure and $1.8 million in other capital improvements
annually. He expects residential rates to remain the same in 2018. MVEA will
continue to encourage members to use more efficient energy such as LED lights,
Energy Star appliances, whole home air conditioning, and certain types of heat
pumps. See https://www.mvea.coop/save-energy-money/rebates/.

Programs such as Operation Roundup, in which a member’s
electric bill is rounded to the next whole dollar, will continue to sustain
organizations and individuals who’ve been affected by catastrophic
circumstances. MVEA will continue to support high school students by making
available 14 $1,000 scholarships. Three students will also be chosen through an
essay contest to either go to Washington, D.C. or participate in a youth camp
near Steamboat Springs.

Finally, Herron confirmed that protecting member information
and preventing any interruption in the delivery of services through cyber
security will always remain a top priority.

West provides Black Hills profile

West confirmed that BHE, a part of Black Hills Corp., is a
publicly-traded IOU. Managed by a 10-member Board of Directors, CEO and Chairman
Dave Emery serves as the only employee-director on the board. BHE is governed by
the PUC to ensure reasonable rates while recovering enough to be profitable,
investing in safety, infrastructure, environmental controls, and keeping BHE
economically viable.

• Number of customers – 1.2 million for all eight states,
273,000 for Colorado only

• Types of services – gas and/or electricity, depending
on location

• Number of employees serving Colorado – 320

• Service area description – communities primarily fit a
rural or mountain profile; Colorado has the greatest service density

The cost of doing business

West reiterated Herron’s statement that energy costs continue
to stay low. Colorado and the Rocky Mountain states routinely have some of the
cheapest gas prices in the country because they supply most of their own oil and
gas needs with little help from other regions. Continually seeking low gas
prices, BHE purchases excess gas to place in storage, which is a big part of
serving its remote customers in mountain communities. BHE is selling off the
exploration and production side of its business assets and will no longer own
any refineries by the end of 2018. Annual operating revenue for BHE’s 2017
Colorado gas is $160 million.

West explained the monthly rate structure and said customers
may voluntarily support BHEAP, the low-income energy assistance program. BHE
must file a rate review with the PUC in order to raise rates, but no rate
increase is anticipated for Colorado gas at this time. Residential rebates are
available to customers who purchase energy-efficient appliances.

Benefits to customers and the community

Additional community services that BHE provides include:

• A free online tool to assess the energy efficiency of a
home.

• A discounted rate of $100 for a technician to conduct
an in-person energy efficiency assessment and provide recommendations.

• Free Energy Saving Trees program through the Arbor Day
Foundation. Free, 2-foot dormant trees are shipped directly to a customer’s
home address. A tool that helps determine the most energy efficient (to
maximize sun and wind protection) planting site is included.

• Training for local fire departments on how to deal with
natural gas fires and joining local chambers of commerce in supporting other
organizations.

• Adoption of the Cyber Top 20 program, which intensifies
internet safeguards and reduces risks that may jeopardize BHE’s assets,
system, and customer information.

West asked residents to "Take the safety message to heart!"

• Protect your meter from snow, ice, and debris and treat
it gently.

• Be attentive to the telltale rotten-egg gas odor and
get out immediately if you suspect a gas leak. Leave doors, windows and
lights "as is" and call 911 from a safe location.

• Appliance installation should only be done by a
certified professional to maintain codes and standards.

• Prevent major damage and subsequent costly repairs by
calling the free 811 service "before you dig."

Herron and West addressed how the two utilities respond to
large-scale evacuations such as wildfires. MVEA and BHE both have comprehensive
disaster plans in place, but the approach is essentially the same—everything is
shut down. Restoring electrical service is a quicker process, however, than
restoring gas service.

County road repair prioritization requires data

Vice President Tom Vierzba, following up on El Paso County
Commissioner Darryl Glenn’s encouragement at the last NEPCO meeting to get
involved in the road repair and reconstruction selection process, identified the
steps individuals can take to advocate for specific county-owned roads. The El
Paso County Department of Public Works Transportation Division assesses roads
according to surface distress, structural adequacy, and other factors, then
assigns a Pavement Quality Index (PQI) rating from 0-100. A chart showing PQI
for roads in the Tri-Lakes area determined that 53 percent need to be
reconstructed.

By taking photographs, documenting problems, and gathering
data including a road’s PQI, citizens may submit a request to the Highway
Advisory Commission (HAC) no later than August for final possible approval by
the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in January.

Referring to current development, Vierzba noted that although
the Pilot Travel Center (PTC) was approved by the town of Monument in September,
the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) actually owns that section of
Baptist Road west of I-25; therefore, PTC must also receive CDOT approval. See
www.ocn.me/v17n10.htm#mbot.

Regular business items addressed

Member-at-large Mike Aspenson announced that NEPCO Director
of Community Outreach Jennifer Cunningham recently resigned to pursue a business
startup. He opened the annual election explaining that all five spots on the
Board of Directors were available. No one self-nominated, and the membership
voted to elect the current directors for another two-year term.

Robert Swedenburg reported that NEPCO now consists of 41 HOA
members and 8,806 homes.

It was a warm and dry November around the region, much like
last year. Temperatures averaged nearly 10°F above normal, an amazing departure
from normal. This also resulted in several days of record high temperatures. We
did get a couple brief visits from winter weather, but these were short-lived
and didn’t produce enough moisture to get us above normal levels for the month.

The first week of the month saw temperatures 5 to 10 degrees
above average with highs in the mid-50s to low 60s. Gusty winds held
temperatures warm at night as well, with lows only reaching the low 40s on the
1st and 4th.

A quick-moving cold front moved through late on the 6th and
kept highs below freezing on the 7th. Areas of flurries and freezing drizzle
developed, with mainly cloudy skies and areas of fog on the 7th through the 9th.
About an inch of snow fell during the period, but never caused any problems as
it was spread out over days and was generally very light.

Temperatures warmed to the low 60s over the next couple of
days, with mainly clear skies. Slightly cooler air arrived on the 15th, but this
only resulted in 40s for highs versus the 60s the previous couple of days, which
was still above average. The same pattern happened over the next couple days,
with 60s returning on the 16th and 17th, then a return of cooler air on the
18th. However, this shot of cooler air was accompanied by more moisture.

The cold front moved through around 6 p.m. on the 18th, with
clouds quickly filling in behind the front. Light rain quickly changed to snow
that evening, producing 1-3 inches of snow before midnight. But this was another
quick-moving storm, with clear skies returning by early the next morning. This
allowed for chilly temperatures that morning, but the sunshine also allowed
highs to reach the low 50s that afternoon. Highs again reached the low 60s on
the 20th before yet another quick-moving cold front brought brief snow showers
the morning of the 21st.

High pressure from the west moved in and strengthened over
the next few days and highs soared into the 60s and low 70s, peaking on the
27th. The month ended with a couple quick-moving cold fronts, which kept
temperatures at more normal levels. The first front raced through around 1 a.m.
on the 28th, leaving behind some low clouds in the morning and temperatures that
were about 30 degrees colder than the day before. Conditions were sunny and
quiet on the 29th, before a final cold front moved in on the 30th, knocking
temperatures back to normal levels.

A look ahead

In December, daytime highs often stay below freezing and
overnight lows can drop well below zero. The month is generally dry, however,
with several light, fluffy snowfalls. Gusty winds are also a common nuisance
during the month. A white Christmas is fairly common for the area, with either
snow on the ground or a snowfall on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Let’s hope
the pattern shifts from the dry, mild conditions we saw during fall and we start
getting some much-needed moisture.

November 2017 Weather Statistics

Average High 57.4° (+8.8°)

100-year return frequency value max 55.5° min 38.5°

Average Low 30.0° (+9.7°)

100-year return frequency value max 27.5° min 14.1°

Monthly Precipitation 0.41" (-0.18")

100-year return frequency value max 3.80" min 0.16"

Monthly Snowfall 3.7" (-7.1")

Highest Temperature 71° on the 27th

Lowest Temperature 16° on the 18th

Season to Date Snow 7.8" (-14.0")
(the snow season is from Oct 1 to Sept 30)

Season to Date Precip. 0.88" (-1.54")
(the precip season is from Oct 1 to Sept 30)

Heating Degree Days 640 (-226)

Cooling Degree Days 0 (0)

Bill Kappel is a meteorologist and Tri-Lakes resident. He can
be reached at billkappel@ocn.me.

Letters to Our Community

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in Letters to Our
Community should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter
writer is an OCN volunteer.

A better way for health care

First, I am a fiscal conservative. I hate waste and
stupidity. I was senior management for most of my life and then both my wife and
I owned our own businesses. We know what it’s like to make payroll and build a
business. The hours are long and the decisions are often tough.

Now, Bernie Sanders made a big point of pushing a "health
care for all" in the 2016 election. As one would expect, there was a lot of
pushback from Congress. "How would this be paid for? This is just another
example of runaway socialism."

I’m going to skip past the politics and just go to the facts.
The World Health Organization has two interesting stats, both published in 2016.
First is the ranking of world healthcare systems, where the U.S. ranks 37th (No.
36 is Costa Rica). Second is life expectancy, where the U.S. ranks 31st (and
Costa Rica again outranks us at No. 30).

OK, let’s look at spending per capita. According to the 2016
report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), we
spend an average of $9,024 per person. France (which has the No. 1 healthcare
system), Germany, Canada, UK, and Japan are all spending less than half what we
spend—and all have better results.

What if all the money that is paid into health insurance
companies by businesses, local, state and federal governments and individuals
was instead paid into a general medical insurance fund? The probable result
would be lower costs, better care, and longer life.

I know this sounds like a crazy leftwing idea, but if it
saves money and produces a better outcome for Americans, it might be worth
thinking about.

Kent Jarnig

Too much speeding on I-25

What is going on? While most drivers on I-25 between Castle
Rock and the Springs drive at or around the speed limit, some number of them
wildly flaunt the limit. When on I-25, I try to drive at the posted speed limit,
and observe that many other drivers are doing the same. At the same time,
however, other drivers pass us, sometimes going at least 85 mph. Do they not
care, do they not recognize that their disregard for safe driving puts them and
others at risk of a serious crash? It seems that not a day goes by without my
receiving an email from CDOT about a crash on I-25 between Monument and Castle
Rock.

What then can we law-abiding citizens do? As far as I can
tell, one reasonable and simple action is to tell our elected officials and law
enforcement officers that we will not stand by and allow these unsafe drivers to
continue their reckless disregard of traffic laws. Personally, I have written a
letter to The Gazette (it was published), and have corresponded with the
Colorado State Police (response: not enough troopers).

I can’t help but wonder what the response would be if we all,
or least a great number of us, wrote or called and demanded better enforcement
of our traffic laws? Perhaps nothing, perhaps something. It’s at least worth a
try.

Ross Meyer

Between the Covers at Covered Treasures
Bookstore:

Books for the discerning reader

By the staff at Covered Treasures

"You can make positive deposits in your own economy every day by reading and
listening to powerful, positive, life-changing content and by associating with
encouraging and hope-building people."— Zig Ziglar

Here are a few suggestions of some great books for the
discerning readers on your holiday list:

Endurance: A Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery

By Scott Kelly (Alfred A. Knopf) $29.95

Veteran of four spaceflights and the American record holder
for consecutive days spent in space, Scott Kelly has experienced things very few
have. He describes navigating the extreme challenge of long-term spaceflight and
life in zero-gravity: the devastating effects on the body; the isolation from
everyone he loves and the comforts of Earth; the catastrophic risks of colliding
with space junk; and being unable to help should tragedy strike at home. The
latter was an agonizing situation Kelly faced when his twin brother’s wife, U.S.
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was shot while he still had two months in
space to complete. Kelly’s humanity, compassion, humor, and determination
resonate throughout as he recalls his rough-and-tumble New Jersey childhood and
the youthful inspiration that sparked his astounding career.

Leonardo Da Vinci

By Walter Isaacson (Simon & Schuster) $35

Based on thousands of pages from Leonardo Da Vinci’s
notebooks and new discoveries about his life and work, Walter Isaacson weaves a
narrative that connects Da Vinci’s art to his science. He shows how Da Vinci’s
genius was based on skills we can improve in ourselves, such as passionate
curiosity, careful observation, and an imagination so playful that it flirted
with fantasy. With a passion that sometimes became obsessive, Da Vinci pursued
innovative studies of anatomy, fossils, birds, the heart, flying machines,
botany, geology, and weaponry.

Becoming Leonardo: An Exploded View of the Life of Leonardo
Da Vinci

By Mike Lankford (Melville House) $28.99

For a different approach on Da Vinci, this book is unlike
anything ever written about the Renaissance genius. Mike Lankford explodes every
cliché about Da Vinci and then reconstructs him based on a rich trove of
available evidence—bringing to life for the modern reader the man who has been
studied by scholars for centuries, yet has remained a mystery. Lankford
transports readers back to a world of war, plague, court intrigue, viciously
competitive famous artists, and murderous tyrants with exquisite tastes in art.

Origin

By Dan Brown (Doubleday Books) $29.95

The fifth book in the Robert Langdon series navigates the
dark corridors of hidden history and extreme religion. Langdon and Vidal must
evade a tormented enemy whose all-knowing power seems to emanate from Spain’s
Royal Palace itself and who will stop at nothing to silence billionaire Edmond
Kirsch and his discovery that "will change the face of science forever." On a
trail marked by modern art and enigmatic symbols, Langdon and Vidal uncover
clues that ultimately bring them face-to-face with Kirsch’s shocking discovery
and the breathtaking truth that has long eluded us.

Artemis

By Andy Weir (Crown) $27

The bestselling author of The Martian returns with a
near-future thriller, a heist story set on the moon. Life on Artemis, the first
and only city on the moon, is tough if you’re not a rich tourist or an eccentric
billionaire. Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect
crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But pulling off the impossible
is just the start of her problems, as Jazz learns that she’s stepped into a
conspiracy for control of Artemis itself, and she’ll have to hatch a truly
spectacular scheme to have a chance at staying alive and saving her city.

Wild Horse Country: The History, Myth, and Future of the
Mustang

By David Philipps (W.W. Norton & Company), $27.95

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David Philipps traces the
rich history of wild horses in America, investigates the shocking dilemma they
face in our own time, and points a way forward that will preserve this icon for
future generations. Philipps explores how wild horses became so central to
America’s sense of itself, and he delves into the hold that wild horses have had
on the American imagination, from the early explorers to the best-selling novels
of Zane Grey to Hollywood Westerns.

"There’s so much more to a book than just the
reading."—Maurice Sendak

December Library Events

You can experience a variety of things at the library this
December, from choral holiday music to a planetarium to creation of last-minute
gifts.

Family programs

The December Fun for the Family program on Saturday, Dec. 9
from 2:30 to 4 is Planetarium at the Library. We will crawl into an inflatable
planetarium and explore our galaxy, solar system, and constellations as they are
projected onto the dome. We will discuss such things as the meaning of days and
years on different planets and the interaction of the sun and planets in their
orbits.

Singers from Palmer Ridge High School will perform holiday
music from 4:30 to 5:30 on Dec. 12 and 14. They will be singing near the
entrance and treats will be provided.

The Lego Build Club will meet on Saturday, Dec. 16 from 10 to
11:30.

Teen and tween programs

The Monument Teen Creative Writing Group will meet from 6 to
7:30 on Tuesday, Dec. 5. Join us to meet fellow writers, share ideas, do writing
exercises and share snacks. No registration is required. This group is for ages
12 to 18.

Come to the library from 3:30 to 7 on Mondays to take
advantage of free math tutoring with AfterMath. Students of all ages are welcome
to work with adult tutors. AfterMath follows the D38 schedule and will not be
offered on days when the library or the schools are closed.

Do you enjoy knitting or wish to learn how? The library hosts
an intergenerational knitting group on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 13, and 20 in the
meeting room. Practice materials are provided, but attendees are encouraged to
bring their own projects. Some instruction is provided for those new to the
craft.

Are you concerned about bullying? Two trained educators will
be at the library from 5 to 6 on Wednesday, Dec. 6 to explain Path 2 Empathy, a
hands-on program that is being used in schools and elsewhere to deal with
bullying and other behavioral issues. Educators, parents, students, and
homeschoolers are encouraged to attend. No registration is required.

Drop by the library from 3:30 to 4:30 on Tuesday, Dec. 12 to
create small last-minute gifts for friends and family before the start of winter
break. Open to ages 9 to 18.

The Teen Arts and Crafts Studio will be offered on Wednesday,
Dec. 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. Get ready for New Year’s by creating your own noise
makers, confetti sticks, party poppers, and more. Supplies will be provided.
Please register at 488-2370

Adult programs

Local author Diane Sawatzki will read from her new
time-travel novel, Manyhorses Traveling, from 2 to 3:30 on Sunday, Dec.
3. The reading will be followed by a question-and-answer session and a book
signing. Copies of the book will be offered for sale, with part of the proceeds
to benefit the Friends of the Library.

Please see the section above about holiday music, knitting,
and the Path 2 Empathy program.

The First Thursday Craft for December will be Wood Burning.
We will create picture frames, ornaments, and more for the holiday season.
Registration is required and opens two weeks before the class. All materials are
provided. This program was moved up one week due to schedule conflicts.

The Monumental Bookworms will meet from 7 to 8:30 on Tuesday,
Dec. 12 to discuss The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. All are welcome
to attend this monthly book club sponsored by the Tri-Lakes Friends of the
Library.

On Thursday, Dec. 14 from 1 to 3, instructor Joanna Bolek
from Joyful Mind Arts LLC will teach a class on creating artistic collages. All
materials are provided and registration is required.

The Monumental Readers will meet from 10 to noon on Friday,
Dec. 16 to discuss Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner. All patrons are
welcome to attend this monthly book group.

In the display case during December are holiday items crafted
by library staff. On the walls are photographs by Alathea Bubke.

Palmer Lake Library Events

Palmer Lake’s Lego Build Club is on the first Saturday of the
month at 10:30. Story times for 3- and 4-year-olds are on Wednesday at 10:30 and
Toddler Time for children 1 to 3 is on Friday at 10:30.

The Palmer Lake Book Group meets at 9 a.m. on the first
Friday of each month. All patrons are welcome to attend. Please call 481-2587
for the current selection.

Please note that all Pikes Peak Library District
facilities will be closed on Dec. 24, 25, and 31 and on Jan. 1.

High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG):

Winter’s Back to Eden: No till, no tractor, no trouble
gardening

By Janet Sellers

If you were like me and didn’t get to prep your 2018 flower
or food garden—or even come up with ideas for it—we can still get a bit more
gardening in for the year and it will be ready to plant next spring. No till, no
tractor, no trouble lazy gardening to the rescue! Enter the Back to Eden garden,
using wood chips and fallen debris. We take our education and cues from our very
own forest habitat yet again, since the forest knows what it is doing and has
been successful at it. Our natural ponderosa forests do this all year long, for
their entire lives of up to 600 to 800 years.

The hardest work done on a wood chip garden bed is picking up
the wood chips, and picking up the manure if you use manure in your composted
soil culture, and putting them around the garden. The Back to Eden wood chip
garden, now a standard for home gardening and using wood chips from the property
or a chip day, is just layered, not mixed.

Paul Gautschi, author, gardener, and filmmaker, states, "For
an ideal Back to Eden garden, apply three to four sheets of newspaper. Then
apply 3 to 4 inches of organic compost or composted manure. Then an additional 2
to 4 inches of wood chips or alternative covering on top."

The magic is in the fungi, chewing up the chips into great
humus, the organic component of soil formed by the decomposition of leaves and
other plant material by soil microorganisms, and making happy food trees. Back
to Eden relies on the spiritual and physical steps to the successful gardening
traditions of the ancients.

Gautschi has a website, films, and more explaining the
spiritual and physical steps to the successful gardening traditions of the
ancients.

In our personal landscaping for an optimal food forest of
trees and garden foods, we heroically work to protect our local ponderosa
forests and focus our efforts in a specific garden area and optimize the decay
process to get our garden-specific humus, the ready soil, in a faster time
frame. We can dramatically speed up the process and increase production in a
wood chip Back to Eden garden, using chipped pine needles, chipping leaves,
twigs, branches, and logs for the natural set of components that have the
optimal connection to the breakdown for humus.

Once the whole pile has gone through the chipper a couple of
times, it gives good diversity and is easy to use. Just put it over the ground
at least 3 to 4 inches thick. I still cringe when I see the huge numbers of
bagged pine needles and leaves that could create a wonderful garden right in
place. Experts from Back to Eden gardening traditions say we can just chop up
the leaves, run the lawnmower over it or stick the weed eater into a barrel of
leaves and needles to create the mulch, the black gold that makes soil so
powerful and magical to grow things.

But the removal of the naturally dropped nutrients is robbery
to the forest floor food bank. The trees need their natural food to thrive and
withstand life’s stressors. Commonly, after removing the real soil food mulch
from the land, people buy chemicals to put on the earth to "fix it" or fix what
was ruined, but relearning how to leave it alone, organic and safe is a growing
trend.

In nature, the materials layer themselves as they fall to the
ground, beginning their process so that we have plenty of oxygen to create the
decomposition of materials and thereby our sweet smelling, forest soil. If we
mix the ingredients, they become acidic and may become anerobic, which gets
slimy, foul and won’t become productive soil. With the wood chips, there are
small and large pieces. The small pieces decompose faster, while the larger ones
are slower to deteriorate but they hold water better for the process, thereby
complementing the small pieces as all the materials decay in due time.

The best soil makers break down the materials into the humus,
and we rely on fungi for that. Fungi are known as the teeth of the forest. A
thick wood chip mulch will bring in fungi and create a fungal-dominated soil,
beloved by big food forest trees and woody species. Some "experts" try to say
that wood chips are a fire hazard, but wood chips are actually masters at moving
and holding water. Just like trees, the wood chips can hold, store and release
the water. While science experts do their work in controlled environments, they
relate that information, but out in nature the answers are quite different, and
investigating this humus creation relationship for the ultimate eco-protection
is a worthy effort.

Janet Sellers is an avid lazy gardener (aka leave-it-natural)
and active ethnoecologist promoting the dynamic relationships among people,
biota, and environments from the cultures of the past and immediate present. She
can be reached at JanetSellers@ocn.me.

Art Matters:

Local art:
for a big kick out of the most beautiful
of small artworks

By Janet Sellers

While making the rounds on Small Business Saturday, I spoke
with Wendy Ledsham and Dayna Morgan when I visited Monument’s new Gallery 132.
They were making their artwork and tending the store. The gallery is an artist
co-op for paintings, glass work, metal works, jewelry and other objet d’art—even
the art of chocolate truffles! Ledsham makes mandalas in paint onto a variety of
objects. At the time we spoke she was putting colors onto glass holiday
ornaments, in detailed myriad dots that remind me of the movement of stars in
the sky. She had a set of tools just for making the size of tiny dots and dipped
the nibs into the various paints and onto the glass.

Morgan, a retired IT pro, has been making jewelry and
beadwork for quite some time and creates abstract, freeform medallions for
necklaces in precious metal clay and beadwork. She has a showcase at the gallery
and enjoys sharing her knowledge of her craft to visitors when she is at the
gallery. We talked of her love of art, Southwestern spirit trees and stone
sites, and her beloved horses, and we plan to go see some sacred art in the form
of Ute Spirit Trees very soon. It’s always intriguing to me the way our local
sacred art of Spirit Trees inspires so many people. The ancient sacred artform
is precious and a natural treasure of our rare yet very local ethnoecology
history, and the contemporary awareness to protect these is growing, which is
also good to see.

While many think of the jumpstart of holiday fun as beginning
in late November, the annual Small Business Saturday "shop small" campaign is
still powerful for December, too. According to American Express, founder of
Small Business Saturday in 2010: "The benefits of Small Business Saturday reach
beyond just one day. According to this year’s Small Business Saturday Consumer
Insights Survey, 84 percent of consumers who are aware of Small Business
Saturday said the day makes them want to Shop Small all year long, not just
during the holiday season!"

Southwinds Fine Art Gallery, another local gallery with a
group of artists, will hold a holiday art show and sale the weekend of Dec. 8
and 9. This show will focus on small works, just right for gifts and intimate
spots for office or home. The small works of art or groupings can liven up any
space. There will be paintings, glasswork, jewelry, greeting cards, as well as
aerial works. Some art with a holiday theme will be available for those who like
to put up holiday art beyond mere decor, and lots of art for everyday enjoyment.

Southwinds has nine local artists, and the recent shows and
sales have been well-attended on the artist reception evenings (for December it
is Dec. 8, 4 to 8 p.m.) and on the Saturday sale days. The gallery has been at
its site on the corner of Baptist and Rollercoaster Roads for nearly two
decades. Just remember to look carefully for this spacious art wonderland— it is
beautifully nestled in the Black Forest and surrounded thickly with ponderosa
pine. It is very conveniently located close to Fox Run Park, so when you are out
and about, drop by and say hello to the artists and enjoy the art on the show
dates, or you can visit by appointment.

Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts, annual member and
resident artist show through Dec. 30, 304 Highway 105, Palmer Lake. The next
call for Artists: Visions of Light photography show, early deadline is Dec.
18. View website for details:
www.TriLakesArts.org.

Holiday Pop Up Shops—they really do just "pop up"
impromptu so keep a look out! Did you miss any? Just see Facebook: "local
holiday pop up shops" for the Tri-Lakes area.

Caption: Pop-up shops are notable for their ability to be more personal
and unique than big-box commerce, and usually pop-ups are unannounced as a local
fun surprise store. Like a trunk show in a storefront, the new venue style is
popular nationwide for optimizing spaces and offering new or unique products.
This pop-up shop with local coffee purveyor Lynae Thompson, with hostess gifts
and holiday gift baskets, was featured during Small Business weekend at Bella
Art and Frame Gallery, and will return often this season. Get the scoop on the
last-minute pop-ups online with Facebook by searching "local holiday pop up
shops." Photo by Janet Sellers.

Caption: Artists Wendy Ledsham, left, and Dayna Morgan enjoy their time
making art and visiting with guests at Gallery 132. The artists are part of a
group of artists in the cooperative, located in the Historic Monument area.
Photo by Janet Sellers.

Janet Sellers is an award-winning artist, writer, and speaker. She teaches
art and creative writing in the studio, on location, and in local college
classes. Contact her at janetsellers@ocn.me.

Snapshots of Our Community

Haggard at TLCA, Nov. 4

Caption:
On Nov. 4 at the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts,
Marty Haggard, oldest son of acclaimed songwriter and country superstar Merle
Haggard, performed a variety of Merle’s songs as a tribute to his dad’s
influence on the music industry. Marty, named after family friend Marty Robbins,
started his over 40-year music career traveling and playing with his dad’s band.
That experience not only started his career but left him with numerous stories
that he imparted to the audience that incorporated music legends such as Kris
Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Lefty Frizzell along with those about his
father. Marty said, "my dad was not a big talker as he spoke through his music"
and through the tribute concerts he "keeps his (Merle’s) music alive." Among his
dad’s 110 top 10 hits, Marty performed The Highway Is My Home, That’s
the Way Love Goes, and Today I Started Loving You Again. Photo by
David Futey.

Crawford Memorial dedicated

Caption: Family, friends, dignitaries, veterans, and area
residents, undeterred by frigid wind, gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony of
the new William J. Crawford Memorial at the north end of Palmer Lake. The
ceremony, held on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, was orchestrated by the Crawford
Memorial Committee and supported by a vast array of organizations and
individuals. Master of Ceremonies Bill Miller welcomed everyone and spoke of his
deep respect and fondness for Crawford. Honored guest speaker Bob McLaughlin,
retired U.S. Army colonel, recounted stories that reflected Crawford’s character
and humility. Cadets from the U.S. Air Force Academy served as the Honor Guard,
American Legion Tri-Lakes Post 9-11 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Crawford Post
7829 presented the flag, Justin Gittins and Boy Scout Troop 9 of Monument led
the Pledge of Allegiance, the Palmer Lake Elementary School Children’s Choir and
the women’s quartet Confetti sang songs to honor Crawford’s patriotism and
faith, and bugler Troy Hanson of Bugles Across America closed with Taps. Beverly
Kite, Crawford’s daughter, placed a wreath on the memorial and was joined by her
family to cut the ceremonial ribbon. Ed Kite, Crawford’s son-in-law, offered the
invocation and benediction. Crawford received the Medal of Honor for his heroism
during World War II when he single-handedly destroyed several machine gun nests,
allowing his platoon to advance a hill near Altavilla, Italy. Staying to tend a
wounded soldier, Crawford was captured and detained as a prisoner of war for two
years. To learn more of Crawford’s story, go to
http://wjcrawfordmemorialfund.com.
Photos by Tommy Olson, caption by Jennifer Kaylor.

Student’s view of Veterans Day

Caption:
Today, I will be telling you a little bit about
the Monument Academy Veterans Day assembly. It took place on Nov. 10. First, the
people. All the people were important. There where at least 300 students,
veterans, and other Monument citizens. There was the head of the Monument VFW
and there were several speakers. There was one thing that stood out to me more
than anything, more than the orchestra. More than the choir. The table of
remembrance. It had a lot of cool and nifty items on it and they all meant
something. It is round. This is for the never-ending suffering of the people who
have lost someone to war. Then there was the rose. And the upside-down glass.
And the Bible. And the yellow ribbon. And the white table cloth. And the candle.
And the one chair. And the bread plate with the lemon and the salt. All of these
items meant something vivid. Something powerful. Just for our veterans, young or
old, they are all special. I think that the reason they do this is because
veterans deserve more recognition than they get. They all deserve a lot of
special neat things. Caption and photos by Monument Academy student Sean
Perry.

Screenagers, Nov. 13

Caption:
A panel of students and adults answered questions
posed by Liz Walhof (standing) after watching the film Screenagers: Growing
up in the digital age. Pictured, from left, are Debbie Sell, D-38 high
school social worker; Zoe O’Donnell, Lewis-Palmer Middle School student; Rene
Mathenge, Lewis-Palmer High School student; Jason Sabater, Cyber Network
Defense; Zackary Watson, D-38 parent; and Granger Blach, Palmer Ridge High
School student. Photo by Jennifer Kaylor.

Caption: William Crawford’s daughter and grandchildren cut
a cake in his honor in a celebration lunch at The Depot that followed the
memorial dedication. Photos above and below by Tommy Olson.

Caption: Members of Confetti as they sing It Is Well with
My Soul. From left are Pat Walz, Mary Roughen, Sandi Knutson, and Lynn Cameron.
Photo by Jennifer Kaylor.

Preserving Memories

By Jennifer Kaylor

On Nov. 15, Bethesda Gardens Monument hosted an educational
program to help adult children of aging parents in the process of transitioning
called Preserving Memories and Honoring Legacies.

Local businesses COSVideo Productions and SchurSuccess Group
provided practical tips for those who need to update movies, photos and audio
for longer-lasting, higher-quality storage or prepare a home for sale,
respectively.

Mark Tachna, COSVideo owner, advised converting VHS
videotapes, 8mm tapes, 8mm and 16mm film, vinyl records, and audio cassettes to
more current media formats such as DVDs, CDs, and flash and hard drives. Tachna
cautioned that the equipment designed to play the older formats, especially
VCRs, can be unreliable and prone to destroying recordings.

A fun and exciting option for families to preserve memories
is to create a legacy video. Tachna suggested planning interviews with friends
and family members and basing the interview questions on photos. Tachna added
that a photo party is a good way to organize and make decisions about the
pictures that accumulate over a lifetime. More information is available on
Tachna’s website,
www.coloradospringsvideo.com.

Erin Turner, associate broker and marketing and
administration manager of SchurSuccess Group, provided a checklist for keeping
the home moving process manageable that included:

• Know your time frame.

• Begin with the end in mind.

• Schedule backward and set deadlines—"checking things
off of a list is great for releasing endorphins."

• Enlist your realtor’s help to get suggestions regarding
your assets and home.

• Establish five designated locations to place items into
these five categories: move, family, sell, donate, and discard.

• Use colored stickers to confirm an item’s designation.

• Use graph paper or a computer program to plan spacing
of furniture.

• Be prepared to be overwhelmed.

• Take photos of items you want to remember.

• Throw an "asset party" before disseminating items to
family members.

Michael "Whit" Whitfield, auction and appraisal services
manager of SchurSuccess Group, distinguished between an appraisal and an
evaluation. An appraisal is a professional opinion on the value of an asset and
includes factors that contribute or detract from its value. An appraisal is
mandatory when making a charitable donation. An evaluation is an informal,
not-so-well researched opinion that provides guidance in deciding whether or not
to keep an asset.

Whitfield added that the sale of personal property is not
regulated in Colorado, so be sure that you understand the terms and conditions
of any sales agreement and contract with professionals who have a good network
or are at least willing to work with others in the transition profession.
Additional information about SchurSuccess Group is available at
www.schursuccessgroup.com.

Caption: Erin Turner, associate broker and marketing and
administration manager, left, and Michael "Whit" Whitfield, auction and
appraisal services manager of SchurSuccess Group discuss ways to ease the
transition to a new life phase. Caption and photo by Jennifer Kaylor

Caption: Senior Coffee at the Tri-Lakes YMCA is a
weekly event open to the public. Every Tuesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. seniors
meet to share coffee, provided by the Y, and swap stories, be it local news or
reasons to live in Colorado. Here, several people relax after their exercise
class and talk about their Thanksgiving plans. From left are Kay Cooper, Shirley
Monk, and Harry Sullivan. The inset shows Tommy Olson and Arlene Fisher-Olson.
Photos by John Howe.

Dakota Blond at TLCA, Nov. 17

Caption:
On Nov. 17, the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts (TLCA)
hosted Dakota Blonde. Bandmembers Mary Huckins, Don Pinnella, and Tony Raddell
played original music and some well-known covers. On this night, Gordon Burt and
Ernie Martinez joined the usual bandmembers. Their musical style, acoustic folk
mixed with bluegrass, enveloped the audience like a warm, cozy blanket keeping
the snowy evening at bay. In Bus Stop, originally by the Hollies, Huckins’
crisp, sweet voice mixed with Raddell’s and Pinnella’s, creating deep harmonies.
Mary’s Waltz, a slow, flowing love song, benefits from Burt’s slow methodic pull
of the violin. The bass in the background of Steve Earle’s My Old Friend the
Blues imparted a hearty mellowness. Dig Real Deep was upbeat and encouraging.
Between songs, the band’s authentic friendships were in evidence in their
humorous playful banter with each other. They sat among original paintings done
by local artists that reflected their artistic creativity and made the venue all
the more inspirational. Pictured, from left, are Pinnella, Huckins, Martinez,
Raddell, and Burt. Information on upcoming events at the nonprofit TLCA is at
www.trilakesarts.org. Photo by
Allison Robenstein.

Outpouring: Demographics

Caption:
Irv Halter, executive director of the state
Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), spoke at the Nov. 21 meeting of "Outpouring:
A Local Version on TED Talks" sponsored by Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church.
Halter spoke on demographic trends in Colorado, the mission of DOLA, the rural
vs. urban divide, and affordable housing concerns. He has traveled over 50,000
miles and visited almost every part of the state, with a strong focus on the
eastern plains, the western slope and mountain towns. He noted that Colorado has
grown 10 percent since 2010 and is one of the top 10 fastest-growing states in
the country. DOLA helps extraction- and agriculture-impacted communities (e.g.
loss of mining jobs, drop in commodity prices), the 22,000 Colorado kids who are
homeless, and communities who want to fund town managers, build courthouses, and
restore riverfronts formerly used to dump tailings from mines. Halter says the
"it" factor that ensures community success is an engaged public. He ended his
talk with a quote from the author Wallace Stegner: "One cannot be pessimistic
about the West. This is the native home of hope." Outpouring talks are held on
the third Tuesday of each month at Pikes Peak Brewing Co. More information on
these talks can be found at
http://tlumc.org/outreach/outpouring. DOLA distributes over $300 million in
grants to support community development and affordable housing. More information
on DOLA is available at
https://www.colorado.gov/dola. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

Palmer Lake Chili Fundraiser

Caption:
Firefighters Patrick Pearce, left, and Dominic
Maffia and Key Club members helped with the festivities. Photo by John Howe.

Caption: The Palmer Lake Annual Supper and
Starlighting Festival showed its continuing popularity as huge numbers lined up
for a chili dinner Nov. 25 to open their holiday season. The chili aroma
permeated the air, and folks were entertained by the festivities as they waited
to enter the holiday-decorated dining room. The Palmer Lake volunteer
firefighters and Kiwanis Key Club youths from Palmer Ridge High helped
everywhere from the kitchen to the gazebo and popcorn stand. Proceeds will
benefit the Fire Department. Photo by John Howe. Photo by Arlene Fisher-Olson
taken from the long line at left in the photo above.

Our Community Notices

By Judy Barnes, Events Editor

Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or
times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and
place of any event you wish to attend by calling the information number for that
event.

Toy donations needed for Santa on Patrol

Santa on Patrol will team with the Monument Police
Department, Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District, and the Palmer Lake
Police Department to deliver toys and good cheer to many children in the
Tri-Lakes area on Dec. 23, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Santa and his elves from the
fire and police departments hope to deliver more than 1,000 toys again this
year. New, unwrapped toys and gift cards may be dropped off by mid-December
to the following locations: Monument Police Department, 645 Beacon Lite Rd.;
Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Stations 1, 2, and 3; or Tri-Lakes Monument Fire
Department administration offices, 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 103. For more
information, contact Monument Police Chief Shirk, 481-3253.

Meals on Wheels in the Tri-Lakes area needs substitute
drivers to deliver meals Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Volunteers will have to
complete an application with Silver Key and then go through a background check.
For more information, phone Sue Cliatt, 481-3175.

Volunteers needed for Community Corrections Board, apply by
Dec. 15

The El Paso County Board of Commissioners is seeking two
community-minded citizen volunteers to serve as citizen-at-large members on the
Corrections Board. Applications are due by Dec. 15. The volunteer
application is located at www.elpasoco.com. Click on the "Volunteer Boards"
link. For more information, call 520-6436 or visit
www.elpasoco.com.

Tri-Lakes Y winter basketball, register now

Registration is now open for winter basketball, preschool
through grade 8. The season begins Jan. 8. Financial assistance is available.
See ad on page 6. Register at www.ppymca.org; or at the Y, 17250 Jackson Creek
Parkway, Monument; or phone 481-8728.

Tri-Lakes Women’s Club’s (TLWC) grant application for 2018
will be available online Jan. 15 through March 15 on the TLWC
website, www.tlwc.net. Eligible organizations include nonprofit and public
service organizations and public schools that serve the Tri-Lakes area. Special
program and project requests are welcomed. The application package includes the
instructions as well as other important qualifying information. For more
information, contact Barbara Betzler, bbetz@me.com.

MVEA Scholarships, enter by Jan. 16

Each year, MVEA awards $1,000 scholarships to 14 graduating
high school seniors. Applications are due by Jan. 16, 2018. For entry
qualifications and to complete an online entry form, visit
www.mvea.coop/youth-programs.

LEAP—Help for heating bills

The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is a
federally funded program that provides cash assistance to help families and
individuals pay a portion of winter home heating costs. The eligibility period
for LEAP runs Nov. 1-April 30. Application packets will automatically be
mailed to residents who received LEAP assistance last year at the address where
they were living at that time. To find out if you qualify for LEAP, call 1-866
HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435) or visit www.colorado.gov/cdhs/leap.

Monument text alerts

Text "Monument" to 41411 to receive updates and news of
meetings, weather alerts, openings and closings, as well as important town
information to your phone or personal mobile device.

Forest Lakes Metropolitan District (FLMD) seeks five Pinon
Pines residents to serve on a Citizens Advisory Council. The council will serve
as a forum for Pinon Pines residents to learn about district issues and to
advise FLMD on resident issues. If you are interested in serving on this
advisory council to FLMD, please contact your HOA administrator, Steve Emery of
Hammersmith Management, at 719-389-0700.

Residence vacation check

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office will conduct vacation
checks of homes in El Paso County for residents who are on vacation. This is a
great way to add security to your home when you’re away for multiple days.
Either a deputy or trained volunteer will visit your home while you’re away and
check it periodically. To add your home to their schedule, visit
www.epcsheriffsoffice.com. Info: 520-7151.

Monument Academy now enrolling for 2017-18 school year

Monument Academy, a free public school of choice, features
academic excellence, award-winning programs, and more. For more information or
to schedule a tour, call 481-1950 or visit
www.monumentacademy.net.

St. Peter Catholic School now enrolling for the 2017-18 school year

The school offers full and half-day preschool, Core Knowledge
Curriculum with small class sizes, Christ-centered education, athletics, and
more for preschool-eighth grade. Call or visit: 124 First St., Monument;
481-1855; www.petertherock.org.

Volunteer weather observers needed

The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network is
seeking volunteer weather observers in this area. The nationwide network is made
up of volunteers who help measure and record precipitation in their areas. Learn
more and sign up on the network’s web page at www.cocorahs.org.

Monthly arts and crafts group forming

The Tri-Lakes Silver Alliance Senior Center is looking for
anyone interested in various types of arts and crafts such as needlework,
knitting, beading, coloring, or quilting. If you’re interested in any of these activities or have a suggestion of your own, contact Sue,
464-6873.

Tri-Lakes Silver Alliance Thrift Store needs volunteers

Volunteers are needed for various tasks. The store is located
at 755 Highway 105, Suite N, in the West End Center and is open Monday through
Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. See ad on page 32. To volunteer, call 488-3495.

County Planning and Development’s new website

The county’s new Electronic Development Application Review
Program (EDARP) allows immediate access to documents, development application
processing. This is part of an ongoing county-wide effort to give residents
easier access to data and improve transparency. EDARP is an internet-based
platform that uses Cloud storage through Microsoft Azure and allows users access
to all El Paso County development applications dating back to 1947. The public,
consultants, and developers can see and download electronic copies of
applications for rezoning, subdivisions, and more. The program also allows
electronic submittal of development-related applications, which will reduce
costs to applicants and the county. For more information, visit
www.epcdevplanreview.com.

Become a CASA volunteer

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) offers a volunteer
opportunity like no other. As appointed representatives of the court, CASA
volunteers are empowered to make a lifelong difference in the lives of abused
and neglected children. To learn more visit www.casappr.org or contact Kelly,
447-9898, ext. 1033; kellyp@casappr.org;
www.casappr.org.

Free transportation and handyman services for seniors

Mountain Community Senior Services offers free transportation
and handyman services to Tri-Lakes seniors. If you need a ride to a medical
appointment, grocery shopping, or the local senior lunches, a volunteer driver
will be happy to help you. Call 488-0076 to leave a message for the dispatcher.
If you need grab bars in the bathroom, a ramp to your door, or repair of stairs
or railings, please call Cindy Rush, 488-0076, and leave a message or visit
www.coloradoseniorhelp.com.

Volunteer drivers needed for seniors’ transportation service

Mountain Community Transportation for Seniors is a nonprofit,
grant-funded organization that provides free transportation to Tri-Lakes seniors
60 years old and over. The program needs additional volunteer drivers. For
information, email MCSS at mcseniorservices@gmail.com or call the MCSS dispatch
hotline at 488-0076.

Tri-Lakes Silver Alliance Senior Center, new expanded hours

The Tri-Lakes Silver Alliance Senior Citizens Center is next
to the Lewis-Palmer High School Stadium (across from the YMCA). With the
addition of 16 morning exercise classes, the new hours are Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 8:45-10 a.m.; and Sunday, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. The
facility has a lounge, craft room, game room, and multipurpose room. Programs
include bridge, pinochle, bingo, national mah-jongg, Zumba, line dancing, yoga,
chair yoga, tai chi, Pilates, total body strength, better balance and strength,
and many more! There’s also ping-pong, Wii video games, puzzles and board games,
refreshments, a lending library, computers with internet connections, and an
information table. For information about programs for seniors, visit
www.TriLakesSeniors.org or call Sue Walker, 719-330-0241.

Senior Beat newsletter—subscribe for free

Each monthly Senior Beat newsletter is full of
information for local seniors, including the daily menu of the senior lunches
offered Mon.-Fri. at the Mountain Community Mennonite Church, 643 Highway 105,
Palmer Lake. It also contains the schedule of the classes and events for the
month at the Senior Citizens Center and senior-friendly library programs. To
subscribe, send an email with your name and mailing address to
SeniorBeat@TriLakesSeniors.org. Senior Beat can also be viewed online at
www.TriLakesSeniors.org.

El Paso County expands services to veterans

Three El Paso County agencies providing services to veterans
now have satellite offices at the Mount Carmel Center of Excellence, 530
Communications Circle, Colorado Springs. The Veterans Service office at Mount
Carmel is open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and closes noon-1 p.m. for lunch. Call
667-3816 for an appointment. The Pikes Peak Workforce Center Mount Carmel office
is open Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed for lunch noon-1 p.m.), and is
staffed with two Workforce Center employees who help veterans with their
employment needs. Call 667-3729 for an appointment. The county Department of
Human Services also has a Mount Carmel office open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through
Friday.

Help the Black Forest Animal Sanctuary (BFAS) rescue animals

Southern Colorado Animal Rescue BFAS is an animal rescue and
rehab farm that has been helping animals since 1994. The all-volunteer
organization has rescued thousands of horses, farm animals, dogs, cats, and
various small wild animals and birds. BFAS provides rescue operations, adoption
programs, foster and sponsorship programs, a student/horse education program,
service dogs to veterans, and local and national rescue efforts. They also work
with local schools and scouts. Donations are needed for supplies, and volunteers
are needed for day-to-day operations. To find out how you can help, call
494-0158, email BFASFarm@gmail.com, or
visit www.bfasfarm.org.

The Colorado State University Extension now has a "Your
Energy" website to help Coloradans make more informed energy decisions. The site
includes decision tools, fact sheets, and a blog. The decision tools can help
you figure out energy savings from using more efficient lighting, low-flow
showerheads, heating and cooling systems, water heaters, and more. Other tools
can help you understand how much you spend on heating, cooling, and baseload
electricity and your bottom line if you install a wind turbine or solar array.
Visit the site at
http://yourenergy.extension.colostate.edu.

Free gun-lock kit

The Monument Police Department is offering free firearm
safety kits to local residents through a partnership with Project ChildSafe, the
nationwide firearms safety education program. Each kit contains gun safety
information and a cable-style gun lock that fits most types of handguns, rifles,
and shotguns. The Police Department administrative offices at 645 Beacon Lite
Rd. are open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Drop by during those times to pick
up a free gun-lock kit. For information, phone 481-3253.

Our Community Calendar

By Judy Barnes, Community Calendar Editor

Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or
times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and
place of any event you wish to attend by calling the info number for that event.

Town of Monument Workshop: Planning 101, An
Overview of the Planning Process from Start to Finish, Mon., Jan.
8, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall Board Room, 645 Beacon Lite Rd., Monument.. The
public is invited to this workshop of the Board of Trustees, Planning
Commission, and Board of Adjustments. Info: 884-8017,
www.townofmonument.org.

Pikes Peak Library District’s Kids Web and PPLD
Teens: Kids Web at www.ppld.org features resources for school reports
and homework, Tumblebooks––free online read-along books, and a Fun & Games
link. A "grown-ups" link has information about local school districts,
home-schooling, and more.

The Library Channel (Comcast 17) broadcasts
24/7. See live simulcasts of programs, recorded presentations, a schedule of
Library events, children’s storytimes, an adult literacy program, El Paso
County Commissioners meetings, and much more. Find the schedule online at
www.ppld.org, then click on the link "Happenings @ Your Library," then click
on the "Comcast 17" link to search the schedule.

WEEKLY & MONTHLY EVENTS

Monument Hill Kiwanis Club Breakfast Meeting,
every Sat., 8 a.m., D-38 Administration Building, 146 Jefferson St.,
Monument. Guests are welcome to the weekly meetings that feature speakers on
a variety of topics and a free buffet breakfast. Join the 140+ men and women
of the Tri-Lakes area who work together on projects to support our
community. Info: Bob Hayes, 481-9693,
www.monumenthillkiwanis.org.

Bingo by the American Legion, every Sat.,
game sales start at 6 p.m., games start at 7 p.m., the Depot Restaurant, in
Palmer Lake. Proceeds go to scholarships and other community support
activities. Info: 481-8668,
www.americanlegiontrilakespost911.com/bingo.htm.

Watercolor Painting Demo, with art class
afterward, every Sat.-Sun., 3-5 p.m. For watercolor art for fun and
good health, join Janet Sellers and get free local scene coloring pages
while she demos at local cultural, coffee, and food spots. RSVP & Info:
janetsellers10@gmail.com, 357-7454.

Seniors: Tai Chi Classes, every Mon.,
11–noon, Senior Center at Lewis-Palmer High School (across from the YMCA).
This soft, slow, and gentle form of exercise has many benefits. Registration
required. $3 suggested donation. RSVP & Info: 464-6873.

Seniors Monday Movie Matinee, every Mon.,
1-4 p.m., Tri-Lakes Senior Center located on Lewis-Palmer High School
campus. Free movies and snacks. See the schedule of films in Tri-Lakes
Silver Alliance Senior Beat.

Fibromyalgia Support Group, Tue., Dec. 19,
5 p.m., Police Station, 7850 Goddard (1 block off Academy on Kelly Johnson
near Chapel Hills Mall), Community Room just inside main entrance. A DVD
will play 5-6 p.m.; meeting starts at 6 p.m. Share concerns and success
stories and talk to a D.O. Learn how you can become pain-free. No charge, no
products sold. Meets 3rd Tue. each month. Info: 481-2230.

VFW Auxiliary to Post 7829, Wed., Dec. 20,
7 p.m., The Country Club at Woodmoor, 18945 Pebble Beach Way, Monument. New
members welcome. If you are a male or female relative of a veteran who
served on foreign soil during war or other military action, you may be
eligible. Meets 3rd Wed. each month. Info: Kathy Carlson, 488-1902,
carlsonmkc@aol.com.

Senior Tea, Thu., Dec. 21, 12-1:30 p.m.,
Senior Center at Lewis-Palmer High School (across from the YMCA). Come early
to socialize, bring a side, salad, or dessert to share. Volunteers needed.
Now meets 3rd Thu. each month. Info: Sue, 464-6873.

Chess Nuts, Tue., Dec. 26, 5-9 p.m.,
Tri-Lakes Senior Center, across the street from the YMCA. Any age, any
skill. Learners welcome. Drop in and leave when you want. Bring your own
board and pieces if you have them. Meets 2nd & 4th Tue. each month. Info:
www.TriLakesSeniors.org/chess.

St. Peter Catholic Church: On This Christmas
Night Concert, Fri., Dec. 15, 7 p.m., 55 Jefferson, Monument.
All are welcome for an evening of holiday music. The event is free, however,
a free-will offering to benefit Tri-Lakes Cares will be accepted. See ad on
page 2. Info: www.Petertherock.org.

Tri-Lakes Music Association Annual Christmas
Concert: The Story of Christmas, Fri.-Sun., Dec. 15-17, 7
p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Palmer Ridge High School, 19255 Monument Hill
Rd., Monument. Admission is free; a free-will offering will be collected to
support Tri-Lakes Cares and student scholarships for eligible high school
seniors. Park in the lower parking lots, enter at the auditorium entrance.
See ad on page 12. Info: www.trilakesmusic.org.

Annual Palmer Lake Yule Log Hunt, Sun., Dec.
17, 1 p.m., Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent. Trek up the
mountain in search of the Yule Log. Hunt participants should arrive 11
a.m.-noon. The winner will ride the Yule Log back to town and get the first
cup of wassail. Non-hunters can stay warm indoors with carols and stories.
See ad on page 2. Info: 481-2953.

Santa on Patrol, Sat., Dec. 23, 10 a.m.-1
p.m. The Monument Police Department, Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection
District, and the Palmer Lake Police Department will team up to deliver toys
and good cheer to many children in the Tri-Lakes area. Info: 481-3253.

Town of Monument Workshop: Planning 101, An
Overview of the Planning Process from Start to Finish, Mon., Jan.
8, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall Board Room, 645 Beacon Lite Rd., Monument.. The
public is invited to this workshop of the Board of Trustees, Planning
Commission, and Board of Adjustments. Info: 884-8017,
www.townofmonument.org.

Our community calendar carries listings on a space-available basis for Tri-Lakes events that are sponsored by local governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations.
We include events that are open to the general public and are not religious or self-promotional in nature. If space is available, complimentary calendar listings are included,
when requested, for events advertised in the current issue. To have your event listed at no charge in Our Community Calendar, please call (719) 339-7831 or send the information to
calendar@ocn.me or P.O. Box 1742, Monument, Colorado 80132.